Man gets life in prison in asphyxiation death of scientist bound with duct tape

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (TCN) -- A man has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for his role in a February 2024 murder. 

In October 2025, Daniel Hadders, 38, was convicted of murder for killing 46-year-old Christopher Fallen, KRQE reports. The other suspect in the case, Fallen’s roommate Andres Chavez, died of an overdose two months after Fallen was killed. 

On Feb. 6, Fallen was found dead inside his home by out-of-state business partners who traveled to New Mexico after Fallen missed several calls with them. His head had been wrapped in tape and there was a belt around his neck, according to police. His hands and shins had been bound together with duct tape, and it was later determined he died of asphyxiation.

Fallen’s father told the police his son had recently taken in Chavez as a roommate. Chavez told investigators the two met through a dating site and had a sexual relationship. He claimed the last time he had seen Fallen was on Feb. 1, police said.

Officers found Fallen’s car in a Starbucks parking lot and detained Hadders and Chavez. After obtaining a search warrant, many of Fallen’s personal items, including credit cards and keys, were found inside. According to police, Hadders admitted he knew Chavez but claimed he had bought the car and kept the items he found inside.
 
Investigators obtained communications records between Hadders and Chavez and found photos of Fallen with his hands bound and face and clothing covered in blood, according to police. 

Hadders was arrested on April 27, 2024, according to police. He was charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, three counts of tampering with evidence, three counts of conspiracy to tamper with evidence, three counts of receiving stolen property, receiving/transferring a stolen motor vehicle, dealing in credit cards of another, and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Chavez was going to face the same charges before it was discovered he had died, according to police. 

KRQE reports that at Hadders’ sentencing on Feb. 17, Fallen’s father said, “It was the worst day of my life, I just screamed, ‘No!’ Over and over and over until I couldn’t scream anymore.”

Hadders maintained he had nothing to do with the murder at the sentencing and said, “I did not take any part in this man’s death, I did not cause it, I did not conspire to do it, I did not plan to do it, I did not participate in it, and I wasn’t there for it.”

According to his obituary, Fallen had previously served as a senior research physicist at the Air Force Research Laboratory and was the chief scientist at Fourth State Communications based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at the time of his death. He loved baking, cats, baseball, and visiting breweries. His friends and family “dearly miss his quick wit and gentle, compassionate nature,” according to the obituary. 

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