-and-
“The investigation into Cricket’s death exposed widespread corruption in politics and law enforcement, revealing illegal gambling operations and abuses of power that extended to the highest levels of state government.”
Source: Las Cruces Police (via Facebook)
Photo: Courtesy
In the early morning hours of March 31, 1949, 18-year-old Ovida “Cricket” Coogler was last seen walking along Main Street in Las Cruces. Seventeen days later her body was discovered in the desert, southwest of town.
Cricket’s disappearance and murder shocked the community and set off a chain of events that forever changed Las Cruces and New Mexico.
The investigation into Cricket’s death exposed widespread corruption in politics and law enforcement, revealing illegal gambling operations and abuses of power that extended to the highest levels of state government. The fallout led to major reforms in New Mexico’s justice system, reshaping law enforcement and government accountability.
Local author Paula Moore wrote a book on Coogler’s story entitled, “Cricket in the Web,” which details her life, death and the investigation that followed.
-and-
Cricket was laid to rest in the Masonic Cemetery in Las Cruces.
Though her murder was never solved, Cricket’s legacy endures as a stark reminder of the importance of justice and integrity. On the 76th anniversary of her death, we honor her memory and the impact her case had on our city and state.
