Police in New Mexico have alleged a 28-year-old woman told them she killed her father in self-defense but then made contradicting statements that led to the filing of murder charges.
Summer Coughran was arrested on Tuesday, January 20, in northwest Albuquerque, after calling 911 just before 3 a.m. to confess to shooting her father to death. She has since been formally charged with open murder for killing her father, Kirk Coughran, who was 65.
They arrived to find the father dead. By all indicators, he had been that way for at least 15 hours before their arrival.
According to an arrest report shared with Us Weekly, Summer claimed her dad had assaulted her. In fact, she allegedly told investigators her father had abused her for much of her life.
But as she spoke to police, they started finding inconsistencies in her account. For instance, she was unable to provide specific details about what happened during the alleged assault by her father.
Investigators also stated she was unable to describe what her father had done or said that would have caused a reasonable person to fear for their life.
Police learned that Summer has a documented history of mental health issues, including a schizophrenia diagnosis. Detectives said they believe her mental health problems may have led her to kill.
Investigators were unable to find any evidence to support the daughter’s claims of a recent assault or lifelong abuse, according to the report.
As part of their probe, detectives reviewed prior police reports involving the family.
According to those records, Summer had previously been accused of assaulting her father. One of the reports even noted that she had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and may not have been taking her prescribed medication.
In those earlier incidents, when she was the aggressor, her father refused to press charges, police explained.
A search of court records revealed that Summer was once charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer. That incident unfolded on December 24, 2024.
Within days of that incident, a member of her family sought and was granted a restraining order after reporting concerns for their safety following a string of alleged threats of physical violence Coughran reportedly made.
Summer is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center as the case proceeds through the court system. A bond amount was not set for the woman.
It was unclear Thursday, January 22, if she had entered a plea to the open murder charge. Us Weekly was unable to determine who may be representing Summer on the murder charge but reached out to attorneys listed for her on the 2024 aggravated assault charge who declined to comment.
If you are experiencing elder abuse or suspect someone you know is, you can call the Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116 and speak to a specially trained operator who can refer you to a local agency that can help. The Eldercare Locator accepts calls Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
