A Zuni man that claimed a medicine woman led him to the location of his wife’s body was arrested June 29, on first degree murder and tampering with evidence charges.
According to police interviews listed in the affidavit for arrest warrant, Javin Pablito allegedly killed his wife Mary Pablito on May 13, 2016. The two reportedly got into an argument as they traveled in their white 2015 Jeep Altitude. That argument turned deadly for the wife and mother of five children.
Her body was discovered three days later at the intersection of Allison Road and Maloney Avenue, on the south side of the retaining wall. She was 31.
It took some time for Gallup Police Department to unravel the web of lies involving this case. When officers first responded to the scene on May 16, 2016, Javin Pablito was playing the part of the grief-stricken husband, embracing his wife’s lifeless body.
From initial observation, Mary Pablito had some apparent trauma to her head, bruising to her face and possible laceration as there was blood on her. A later examination of her body also revealed bruising in the rib and armpit areas.
Gallup Police Department Det. Rosanne Morrissette reviewed evidence at the scene to determine whether Mary Pablito was the victim of a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident. As that was ruled out as a possibility, the pieces of the case started to come together.
The arrest warrant states that a medicine woman reportedly told Javin Pablito that his wife was by a “brick wall and some standing water.” So, on May 16, 2016, he gathered some friends and drove to the area of Maloney and Allison. While a friend began to search the area for clues, Javin Pablito found his wife’s body almost immediately after they arrived on the scene.
DISAPPEARANCE
Javin Pablito told detectives that a family friend was watching their children while the two went out to dinner at about 7 pm on May 13, 2016. But only Javin Pablito returned to the home between 8:30 - 9 pm. He told the sitter that he and Mary got into an argument and she walked away from him “at the intersection by the Zuni Metro Dispatch Center,” the warrant report states.
Next, he said he headed to the dam in the Black Rock, Zuni area and sat there for about 30 minutes before heading back to the location he dropped his wife off at. He then headed to El Sabino store in Vanderwagen, N.M., telling investigators that he headed in that direction because he thought his wife may have headed to Gallup on that chilly night.
But the story didn’t add up for investigators. Javin Pablito’s jeep didn’t show up on video surveillance of the intersection at Zuni Metro Dispatch, and interviews with people in Javin Pablito’s circle cracked at his credibility. And DNA swabs taken of blood from the vehicle confirmed that it was Mary Pablito’s blood.
While Javin Pablito remained tight-lipped, someone in his circle did talk. The arrest warrant states that he beat Mary Pablito up and left her on the side of the road in Gallup on May 13, 2016.
The reason? “… To be free of Mary Pablito and felt like she would not leave him alone otherwise,” the arrest warrant states.
Mary Pablito leaves behind three boys and two girls, ages 2 to 15.
Her sister Diane Jones said she’s feeling a mix of emotions now that Javin Pablito is behind bars, but feels like she’s starting the mourning process all over again.
“I wish that I was able to give my sister a hug and celebrate, but I can’t,” she said. “We continue to ask for prayers for Mary and her kids.”
Javin Pablito remains in custody at McKinley County Adult Detention Center as of July 6, on a $25,000 cash only bond. He has a preliminary examination scheduled at 8:30 am on July 12, in Magistrate Judge April Silversmith’s courtroom.
By Babette Herrmann
Sun Editor
