Why did Karen Smallwood turn to a murderer - A detailed case overview

Karen Smallwood's turncoat and murderous behavior is a story with shocking turns that will forever change the Duran family's lives. Karen Smallwood, a woman who had lived a troubled life, found herself in the middle of a devastating crime that took the life of 19-year-old Ursula Duran.

Karen Smallwood was once just a figure on the periphery of Ursula Duran's life, but that changed in an instant when she became the perpetrator of a brutal crime. Ursula, a young mother with a bright future, was killed in cold blood.

Smallwood's actions, motivations, and the sequence of events leading up to the murder are chilling. The story of Duran's death and Smallwood’s involvement was prominently featured in Snapped season 29 episode 26. The episode will re-air on August 14, 2025, at 11 am.

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Karen Smallwood's defection to a murderer

Ursula Duran was found murdered in October 2004 (Image via Unsplash)

The story of Karen Smallwood and Ursula Duran begins in a small town near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2004. Duran, a 19-year-old mother, had been living a promising life.

She had recently graduated from high school with honors, was taking classes at Santa Fe Community College, and was working at her father’s electrical business.

"Ursula was a devoted mother. She looked upon her child as the center of her universe. She would do anything, whatever it took, to make life successful for him and for herself as the mom," said Cissie Ludlow, a friend of Duran's, in an interview with Snapped.

However, all of that changed on October 13, 2004, when Duran’s life was cut short, and she was found dead in her aunt and uncle's house. She had been shot five times, with two shots fired at point-blank range while she lay on the ground, as per Oxygen.

At first, the police were most interested in Duran's fiancé, Thomas Lujan, and a man named Ramos Maldanado with whom Duran had briefly been romantically involved. Both men were questioned, but as the investigation progressed, it became clear that they had nothing to do with the murder.

Then, detectives found an important piece of evidence: soon after Ursula Duran was killed, a woman was seen using her ATM card. Investigators later found out that the woman was Karen Smallwood. Smallwood used to know Duran's aunt and uncle and had worked for them as a housesitter.

The ATM footage showed Smallwood withdrawing money from Duran’s account across several states, including Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, as per Oxygen.

"Someone had used Ursula’s card the day after the murder at a Wells Fargo ATM in Santa Fe, It was used in Texas, Arkansas, and at various ATMs withdrawing money until Ursula’s $2000 was eventually drained," explained Santa Fe Police Chief William Johnson in an interview on Snapped.

The breakthrough in the case came when Ursula Duran's aunt and uncle saw Smallwood in the surveillance video and remembered that she had offered to house-sit for them not long ago, even though they hadn't talked to her in years.

As the authorities tried to figure out what role Smallwood played in the crime, they found out more details about her. Smallwood had been living in her car and was recently kicked out of a nearby campsite for being a nuisance.

"She was a drifter with a violent temper. She often tried to borrow money from family members," said Smallwood's sister in the Snapped interview.

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The evidence against Karen Smallwood

The evidence against Karen Smallwood was stacked (Image via Unsplash)

As detectives continued their investigation, they uncovered even more damning evidence against Karen Smallwood. Her car was located, and inside, they found $800 in cash and a 0.9mm handgun hidden under the front seat, as reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican.

The gun that was found on Smallwood was the same size as the one used to kill Ursula Duran, according to ballistics tests. Also, the hair strands that were found in Duran's hand were later found to belong to Smallwood. The DNA match was very important in proving that Smallwood was involved in the crime.

According to Oxygen, the police also found spent shell casings in a storage unit that were of the same caliber as the bullets that were used to kill Ursula Duran. With these pieces of proof and the ATM surveillance footage, it was clear that Smallwood was involved in the murder.

Karen Smallwood was caught in Florida on November 10, 2004, and sent to New Mexico to face multiple charges, including murder, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence, as per KOAT 7 Action News.

The investigation showed that Smallwood had been taking money out of ATMs using Duran's card, which suggested that she was stealing. When the police looked more closely, they saw that Smallwood's personal problems and long history of instability may have been a factor in her perpetrating the crime.

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Karen Smallwood’s plea and sentencing

Karen Smallwood was sentenced to 30 years in prison (Image via Unsplash)

In January 2008, Karen Smallwood pleaded no contest to first-degree murder. A no-contest plea means that Smallwood acknowledged the state had enough evidence to convict her but did not admit guilt. This plea also allowed her to avoid a jury trial.

On January 16, 2008, Smallwood was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

"I think of her like a meteorite that came down out of the sky and hit Ursula. Of course, we all move on; we don’t have any other choice. But the void will always be there until the day I die," said Dave Duran, Ursula Duran’s father, during the trial, as per the Santa Fe New Mexican.

The family also expressed their frustration with Smallwood’s lack of remorse.

"She’s never going to acknowledge what she did. She has never shown any remorse or understanding of the enormity of this tragedy," prosecutor David Foster said, as per the outlet.

Ursula Duran’s mother, Elaine Duran, poignantly reflected on the loss, reported the outlet.

"Karen, I just want you to know you took away a very important person in my life," she said.

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The aftermath of Karen Smallwood's case

Karen Smallwood would not be eligible for parole until 2034 (Image via Unsplash)

Karen Smallwood’s crime left a lasting scar on Ursula Duran’s family. Duran’s son, Isaiah, who was just three years old at the time of his mother's death, has had to grow up without his mother.

"He is hoping his mother will return," Elaine Duran said, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Karen Smallwood is currently serving out her sentence in prison. Her descent into murder serves as a stark reminder of how personal instability and violent tendencies can lead to irreversible consequences. As she spends her days in prison, Ursula Duran’s family continues to cope with the loss of a young woman who had so much to live for.

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