Kidnapped woman wakes up in the dirt staring at taillights in New Mexico, feds say

A group of three are facing prison time after they were accused of kidnapping a woman in New Mexico, federal officials said.

Michael Clubfoot, 45; Carlyn Calavaza, 41; and Alexis Mahooty, 40, are accused of kidnapping a woman and holding her for ransom, according to a Jan. 6 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The woman went to Clubfoot’s home in May and knocked on the door to see if he was there, according to a criminal complaint filed July 19 in District Court.

When he answered, he told her to “get in” and began yelling at her about a missing truck, the complaint said.

He eventually started to physically assault her and hit her in the head with a handgun, officials said.

That’s when Calavaza arrived and started asking about the truck, which the woman said she didn’t know anything about, the document said.

The woman was then tied up by Calavaza and eventually went unconscious, officials said.

She later woke up to her face in dirt and staring at taillights, officials said.

The group told the woman that if she wanted her family and friends to remain safe, she wouldn’t tell anyone who attacked her, officials said.

During the assault, jewelry she was wearing was removed and a duffle bag the woman had was still at Clubfoot’s home, officials said.

A rancher later found the woman in a barn, and she was taken to a hospital for her injuries, officials said.

A search warrant was later executed, and officials found the duffle bag, along with a receipt that matched the woman’s credit card number, officials said.

Detectives also found a BB gun with blood stains on it, the document said.

Mahooty told officials she got back to the house to pick up Calavaza in her truck and found the woman lying on the ground, the document said.

Mahooty also told officers that she, Calavaza and Clubfoot were going to dump the woman “somewhere towards Arizona,” officials said.

Mahooty, of Pine Hill, was charged with kidnapping, aiding and abetting, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, according to an indictment filed July 31.

Calavaza, of Zuni was charged with kidnapping and aiding and abetting, the indictment said.

Clubfoot, also of Zuni, faces additional charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, according to the news release.

If convicted, they all face up to life in prison, officials said.

They are set to reappear in court on Feb. 10, the release said.

This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM with the headline "Kidnapped woman wakes up in the dirt staring at taillights in New Mexico, feds say."