Man Confesses To Staging Girlfriend’s ‘Post-It’ Suicide Note

After investigators came across what appeared to be a suicide in Illinois, a “Post-It” note appeared to paint what had happened. However, investigators picked up on details that contradicted the story. Since then, someone close to the victim made a startling confession to what had really happened.

The ‘Post-It’ Note Painted What Had Happened As A Suicide, But Details Didn’t Add Up

Back in early September 2024, police in South Peoria, Illinois, responded to reports of a woman reportedly having shot herself. When they arrived, the 20-year-old victim was found lying in a pool of her own blood.

The victim had been suffering from a single gunshot wound to the neck. She was also found with a gun in her hand.

The victim was later identified as Mary Halcomb. As officers investigated the scene, a “Post-It Note” was found in a downstairs bedroom. According to a Peoria County State Attorney’s Office press release, as shared by Law & Crime, it read, “I, Mary Elyce Halcomb, promise to never break Nathanial Archuleta’s heart, and if I do, Nathaniel Archuleta has every right to euthanize me, vice versa, I love you [sic].'”

The person named in the note, Nathaniel Archuleta, later reportedly gave “conflicting accounts” on what had happened. Meanwhile, certain details caused investigators to rule out suicide as a possible cause of Halcomb’s death.

In particular, a trail of blood suggested her body was moved after she had been shot. According to Peoria JournalStar, an autopsy also revealed that a gun had shot Halcomb in the neck from two to three feet away.

Nathanial Archuleta Also Reportedly Made A Few Admissions Concerning Halcomb’s Death

When speaking with investigators, Archuleta initially claimed that Halcomb’s death was a suicide. A later account, however, had him claim that he accidentally shot his girlfriend while cleaning his gun.

However, this account also contradicted what investigators found at the scene, such as Halcomb having her hand around the gun. Police also reportedly did not find anything that could be used to clean a firearm.

According to the press release, Archuleta later claimed he shot his girlfriend because he “caught her texting another man.” A report from local radio station WMBD, around the time of Archuleta’s arrest, also claimed that Archuleta also allegedly “admitted to signing the sticky notes.”

According to the press release, prosecutors also talked about how Halcomb’s death impacted her family. The prosecutors reportedly “spoke of sleepless nights, nightmares, and persistent heartbreak. They described their overwhelming sense of loss, loss of sisterly moments, shared dreams, and life milestones that will never come.”

According to her obituary, Halcomb was working as a CNA while attending classes to become a nurse prior to her death. This was highlighted as “a goal driven by her deep compassion and desire to help others.”

“Her warmth and kindness were evident in every aspect of her life, especially in her role as the oldest of three siblings. She was a devoted and awesome big sister, always ready to lend a hand at home.”

Archuleta has since pleaded guilty to first-degree murder concerning Halcomb’s death. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

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