Man killed wife by standing on her chest as she died and called her a ‘skateboard,’ sheriff’s office says

0Inset: Jess Patterson (San Juan County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The rural area near where Patterson allegedly killed his wife in Kirtland, N.M. (Google Maps).A New Mexico man is behind bars after allegedly killing his wife and recording the fatal violence, Land of Enchantment law enforcement says.

Jess Patterson, 34, stands accused of one count of first-degree murder for the killing of 36-year-old Lauren Patterson, according to a press release issued by the San Juan County Sheriff's Office.

The underlying incident occurred on Oct. 4 at the Patterson family residence on County Road 6335 in Kirtland, a tiny town located some 25 miles south of the Colorado border.

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Law enforcement received a 911 call that Sunday evening from the victim's 17-year-old son, who told dispatchers his mother was unconscious and not breathing, the sheriff's office said. When deputies arrived, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman died from blunt force trauma after suffering "numerous rib fractures and a ruptured spleen which began to bleed internally," according to an autopsy report mentioned in an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the Tri City Record.

As the investigation progressed, detectives discovered that Patterson had previously been arrested six times on domestic violence charges while living in California. In July, he was arrested in New Mexico for allegedly battering his wife.

Law enforcement then homed in on Patterson, and detectives obtained a warrant to search and seize his cellphone. On the device, "a video was located that depicted Ms. Patterson's final moments, which included Mr. Patterson standing on her chest," the sheriff's office said.

The affidavit contains additional details about that footage.

In the video, the man is seen "placing his entire weight" on top of the victim's chest and then "singing and taunting her while she gasped for breaths," according to the charging document.

At one point, Patterson allegedly says "she's dead" and refers to his wife of 17 years as a "skateboard" while continuing to sing.

Finally, when the woman "appears unconscious and unresponsive," the man says "goodnight" and walks away, according to the affidavit.

Authorities and family believe the woman's brutal death is the culmination of a lengthy history of abuse.

The earlier domestic violence arrest in New Mexico included allegations that Patterson hit his wife in the face, authorities say.

The autopsy also showed that the woman had a broken arm that had "naturally healed," according to law enforcement.

The woman's sister told police in one earlier case that Patterson "had beaten Lauren with a baton," according to the charging document. The woman's mother told detectives she believed the defendant "moved the family to New Mexico to isolate the abuse." Neighbors told investigators they could "hear him beating her."

"We understand how deeply unsettling this is for our community," San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to Ms. Patterson's family at this horrible time."

The defendant is currently being detained at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center without bond.

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