Rexburg man allegedly confesses to murdering wife after argument over infidelity and drug use

REXBURG – A 32-year-old man was arrested Thursday night after admitting to police that he shot a woman following an hours-long argument.

Fabian Hernandez is charged with first-degree murder, possession of a controlled substance, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use.

According to court documents, a Rexburg police officer was called to a home in the 600 block of Lilac Street around 11:15 p.m. for a report of a homicide.

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When the officer arrived at the home, he allegedly saw a woman, identified as 35-year-old Ariana Ramos Chavez, lying dead at the bottom of the front steps. According to court documents, she had been shot multiple times in the upper torso.

According to police, Ramos Chavez lived in the house with her partner Hernandez.

One of Ramos Chavez's children reportedly told a Rexburg Police Department lieutenant that when they returned home, they saw Hernandez “standing next to (Ramos Chavez's) body with a gun in his hand.”

According to court documents, the child asked Hernandez why he did this to his mother, at which point he “began to apologize and dropped the gun next to (Ramos Chavez's) body.”

When the officers arrived, the gun was still lying next to the body.

When officers reached the house, Hernandez was reportedly lying on the ground in a “prone position” and said, “I'm the one you're looking for. I'm the suspect.”

Hernandez is said to have then told police that he had “passed out” but that “no one else could have shot (Ramos Chavez).”

He then told officers that the video camera on the house's doorbell had recorded the alleged murder. He reportedly allowed officers to search his phone for the video.

According to police reports, Hernandez told officers that he and Ramos Chavez had argued via text message between 8 and 10 p.m. that evening about “infidelity and drug use.”

Ramos Chavez allegedly told Hernandez to “pack his shit and get out,” referring to methamphetamine he had in her bedroom. Hernandez told officers he “spends between $300 and $500 a week on methamphetamine.”

He then told police that he had bought the gun used to shoot Ramos Chavez for $300 in a Facebook group.

Hernandez told officers that “everyone in the house knew where the gun was” and that it was “always loaded.” He then said he called 911 to report that he had shot Ramos Chavez.

According to police, Hernandez was apparently under the influence of drugs and asked for permission to have his blood drawn. Hernandez asked for a lawyer before agreeing to have his blood drawn.

Court records show that another of Ramos Chavez's children spoke to a detective and testified that she heard Hernandez and Ramos Chavez arguing, Hernandez threatening to shoot her, and then saw Hernandez take the gun before going back outside and shooting her three times.

Hernandez was then taken into custody and booked into the Madison County Jail. According to police reports, a “glass methamphetamine pipe” with “meth residue in it” was found on Hernandez at the jail upon arrival.

He was held on $1 million bail and appeared for his first hearing Friday afternoon. A restraining order was imposed on the children who live in the house where the alleged murder occurred.

Hernandez is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on September 4. If convicted, he could face life in prison or the death penalty.

Although Hernandez is accused of these crimes, it does not necessarily mean that he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.