Prosecutors Lose Contact With Alleged Victim in Farmington Attempted Murder Trial

Prosecutors in the trial of a Farmington man accused of kidnapping and attempted murder told a judge they have lost contact with the alleged victim, a development that could shape whether key testimony is available at trial and how the case proceeds.

Cochise Hayes, 33, faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery against a household member and tampering with evidence stemming from an incident July 14 at a home in the 2300 block of West Apache Street. An affidavit for an arrest warrant describes the 31-year-old woman as being held against her will and “extremely battered all over her body to the point of her face being disfigured.” Police responded after a neighbor called at about 5 a.m. when the woman came to their home reportedly “naked with a swollen face.”

According to court records, the woman told the neighbor, “I don’t want him to take me away,” an exchange cited in the affidavit. Those injuries and the neighbor’s intervention are central pieces of the state’s account of the incident.

Defense attorney Ian Jump told 11th Judicial District Court judges that “the alleged victim … went out of state for treatment on her own. State may have lost contact with her.” Deputy District Attorney Gertrude Lee confirmed prosecutors have lost contact. When District Judge Curtis Gurley asked whether testimony from the woman was needed to “make the case,” Lee said she did not need the woman at trial.

Jump pressed for clarity about whether the woman would be made available to testify, telling the court he had asked the state to go on record that the victim would “be precluded from testifying,” and saying the “State denied” that request. He added, “I’m going to put a motion to exclude together,” and argued that knowing whether the witness will testify “changes how I’m going to defend the case.”

Judge Gurley instructed the prosecutor to set a deadline to locate the witness or formally strike her as a witness. The case remains active, with the next status hearing set for 9 a.m. Feb. 23 in Gurley’s courtroom.

For Farmington and San Juan County residents, the loss of contact with an alleged victim in a violent household case highlights practical and institutional challenges: ensuring victim safety, preserving evidence and balancing defendant rights with community expectations for accountability. Missing testimony can force prosecutors to rely more heavily on physical evidence and third-party statements, or to seek alternative witness arrangements, which may delay resolution.

The Feb. 23 status hearing will reveal whether prosecutors locate the woman, whether the state will present alternative evidence, or whether defense motions will narrow the issues for trial. For neighbors and service providers dealing with domestic violence, the case underscores the importance of timely reporting and coordinated follow-up between law enforcement, prosecutors and treatment providers.