ALBUQUERQUE – Daniel Lowell and Trista Schlaefli were arraigned this morning in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., on an indictment charging them with carjacking and firearms charges resulting in a death. The charges arise out of a Nov. 27, 2017, crime spree during which Lowell and Schlaefli allegedly fled from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint resulting in the death of a victim, and attempted to carjack two other vehicles. During today’s hearings, Lowell and Schlaefli entered not guilty pleas.
The nine-count indictment, filed on April 10, 2018, charges Lowell, 34, of Henderson, Colo., and Schlaefli, 32, of Colorado Springs, Colo., with high speed flight from an immigration checkpoint, carjacking, carjacking resulting in death, attempted carjacking, and possession of at least 15 unauthorized access devices. The indictment also charges Lowell with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, attempted carjacking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. It charges Schlaefli with aiding and abetting Lowell in brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and with attempted carjacking. According to the indictment, Lowell and Schlaefli committed the crimes on Nov. 27, 2017, in Dona Ana County, N.M.
The New Mexico State Police arrested Lowell and Schlaefli on state charges on Nov. 27, 2017, and the FBI arrested the duo on the federal indictment on April 25, 2018.
