T’Naus Nieto
The Chronicle-News

A La Junta woman, Ryanna Rangel, 32, is currently in custody, following an incident where she allegedly stabbed a man she was in an “intimate relationship” with four times, twice in the neck, leading to a subsequent attempted murder charge, and her being held under a $500,000 bond.

Rangel’s most recent charges from earlier this month were altered since previously reported, with, at the time of writing, her formally charged in court, according to records, for attempted murder in the first degree, a felony two, which could carry a sentence of 16 to 48 years, when designated as a crime of violence. She was also charged with a misdemeanor one, violation of a protection order, which could lead to an 18-month sentence.  

According to arrest records, on Aug. 02, the Otero County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a stabbing at the 800 block of Nevada Ave., near the Brick and Tile Park. 

Authorities secured the location and awaited an arrest warrant, but were unable to locate Rangel at that time.  

According to the OCSO’s social media, they posted a wanted poster at 3:30 p.m., Aug. 2, and announced they had captured Rangel around 5 hours later.  

Arrest records indicated that the victim, a 49-year-old man, was in an “intimate relationship” with Rangel and the two had been “using narcotics.”  

During an interview with an OCSO detective at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center, the victim told authorities that while he was asleep on his couch, he woke up to a feeling of “being punched,” and felt “wet and sweaty,” but when he looked down, he saw that the moisture was blood. He stood and backed out of his house and attempted to defend himself, confirming to authorities that the wound on his index finger was from “swiping the knife away.”  

The detective noted four stab wounds, two on the neck, one on the front shoulder, and another on the back shoulder.   

Rangel’s criminal history revealed she was no stranger to violent crime, having been a convicted felon, being arrested back in 2021 for a separate attempted homicide charge, and having multiple counts of assault. However, the DA dropped most of those charges and found her guilty of felony assault with a deadly weapon, leading to a three-year prison sentence.  

In October 2024, she was charged with additional assault counts, resisting arrest, child abuse, and more. However, the DA dismissed all the charges. But the outcome was different at the end of that same year, in December, when she was charged and convicted of a misdemeanor assault, being sentenced to 160 days in jail. 

According to court records, on Aug. 7, Rangel’s defense’s attempt to have her $500,000 bond reconsidered was denied. Rangel has yet to post her bond, at the time of writing.

On Aug. 15, courts ordered a referral for evaluation.  

According to the Colorado Judicial Branch, Rangel’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 11, 2025, at the Otero County Combined Courts for a review hearing.