By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – Authorities believe the suspect in the killing of a New Mexico woman fled to Arizona and his cell phone last “pinged” in Graham County.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Leonard Francis Kieren, 60, regarding the murder of his girlfriend, Kathleen Lorraine Vigil, 57, who was shot to death.
Kieren was last seen driving a white, 2004 Dodge pickup truck with an Arizona license plate of CFT9569 and may be towing a camper trailer. He is listed at 6’2” and 250 pounds. Anyone with information should call the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office at 505-428-3720.
On Saturday, an agent with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office called the Graham County Sheriff’s Office and requested a deputy search the area of Montierth Lane and Little Hollywood Road where Kieren’s cell phone reportedly last pinged before being turned off. Kieren was believed to have shot his wife to death that morning.
The deputy searched the area but did not locate Kieren or his vehicle. He then told the Santa Fe County investigator that due to the area he believed Kieren was likely traveling on Highway 70, which runs from the New Mexico state line and turns into Highway 60 in Globe, which then turns into a freeway in Apache Junction. Kieren reportedly has a residence in Buckeye, west of Phoenix.
The Graham County deputy had a lookout placed for the vehicle, but nothing came of it.
