WICHITA FALLS — A New Mexico woman has been arrested in connection with a 2022 murder in Wichita Falls, according to county jail records.
Janea Ariana Aragon, 32, of Albuquerque, was booked into the Wichita County Jail for murder on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. While she awaits magistrate, her bond is recommended to be set at $1 million.
As of the publication of this story, the arrest affidavit for Aragon had not yet been made available. There are currently no further details available about the murder charge against her.
According to the Wichita County jail roster, the charge dates back to October 26, 2022, when 70-year-old James Shierling was discovered dead inside an apartment in the 1300 block of 11th Street around 3:30 p.m.
Shierling’s death was being investigated as a homicide, according to Wichita Falls Police Department officials.
Aragon’s criminal history revealed one prior arrest for criminal trespass, which occurred on October 26, 2022, shortly before 1 p.m. at the Walmart on Lawrence Road. According to court documents, she was barred from entering the store just 30 minutes before.
Aragon was released from jail the next day, on October 27, so she was in custody when Shierling’s body was discovered by authorities. The criminal trespass charge against her was eventually dropped.
It is unclear whether the murder charge against Aragon is related to Shierling’s death at this time.
