NM - West Mesa Murders (2003-05)

[Donjeta]

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S843715.shtml

Families of missing women come together


Families of the missing women release balloons Saturday in AlbuquerqueA thousand pink and blue balloons filled the sky Saturday to honor the more than a dozen women who went missing in Albuquerque between 2001 and 2006.

Maria Chavarria, the mother of a missing woman, says its time for the city to unite and find answers.

"We're hoping that that will help everyone in albuquerque see the balloons and come together and help us find answers for all these families," she said.

​

http://www.koat.com/news/18989347/detail.html

Forensic Odontologist Helps Identify West Mesa Victims

"Dental identification is the fastest type of identification," said Dr. Peter Loomis, a forensic odontologist with the Office of the Medical Investigator, who is responsible for helping identify several of the victims found.

A handheld X-ray machine is used to scan the dental remains, and then the images are transferred to a computer program. The program then compares the images to hundreds of dental records in the missing persons database.​

http://www.koat.com/news/18988138/detail.html

Mom Fears Daughter May Be West Mesa Victim

Stacy Love Vigil is Anna Vigil's mother. She spoke to KOAT by phone from her home in Arkansas.

"She has a young son who will be seven next week and he hasn't seen his mommy in four years," Vigil said.

Anna's been missing since January 2005.

Vigil referred to the west mesa where remains of 13 bodies have been discovered since February. She said its let her wondering.

"Anna had admitted to me, confided in me that she was having some problems with heroin," Vigil said.​

More at the links.

 

[Kat]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/us/24prostitute.html?ref=us

2 page article. It's about the victims IDed and others that are waiting for answers from the Mesa.

 

[Donjeta]

Dr George Walker from Final Notice detective agency offers a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction:

"The reward is worth $15,000. Walker said the money is coming from a group of Albuquerque citizens who want to see this case solved.

If you have information in the case you can call Final Notice at 1-877-338-1325, or you can call the Albuquerque Police Department tipline at 1-877-765-8273."

http://www.koat.com/news/18997599/detail.html​

I don't know how they'd go about the money if the murderer turned out to be one of the dead suspects.


Families of identified victims may get assistance from The New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission.

The commission does its work from 8100 Mountain Road in Northeast Albuquerque. It helps families with a number of expenses, giving up to $20,000 in aid.

Tackman said, "It could be funeral costs, it could be therapy, it could be loss of wages, or it could be medical or hospital bills."

http://www.koat.com/news/18997257/detail.html
​

 

[Kat]

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/03/28/New_Mexico_seeks_better_system__to_alert_others_about_missing_adults/

March 28, 2009

New Mexico seeks better system to alert others about missing adults

Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said Friday the digging for remains on the west mesa could end some time next week and investigators don't anticipate finding any more victims...

...Denish said she would like to see an "announcement of missing persons," or AMP, alert for adults. It could be similar to an AMBER alert used to publicize missing children, but the details have not been worked out yet.

Such a system also could include ongoing reports to keep a search going, if the person is not immediately found, Denish said.

 

[Donjeta]

The searches are about to end in a small while as no new sets of human remains are expected to be found. They still keep finding fragments though.


http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S853555.shtml
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crime_krqe_albuquerque_mesa_graves_search_nears_end_200903272029

http://www.koat.com/news/19042558/detail.html

Isabel Candelaria hopes the search will continue because she believes her daughter’s remains are buried out there. She feels it's crucial for investigators to keep digging because even a small discovery may lead to the possible identification of her daughter as one of the victims.

"Why stop something they started they need to finish? There's eight unidentified bodies and families that need to know," said Candelaria.

 

[capoly]

Families of missing come together

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The families joining for dinner Thursday began what may become a tradition built around a common bond, one they dearly wish they didn't share.

The families who met at the Northeast Heights restaurant all have daughters who either are missing or whose bodies have been found in makeshift graves uncovered on Albuquerque's southwest mesa since early February.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/...amilies_of_missing_come_together_200904022345

 

[Tonia]

Fifth mesa victim identified

Police confirmed Friday they have identified the remains of a fifth person buried on Albuquerque's West Mesa.

Officers aren't releasing the name of the victim to the media because they're working to notify relatives.

Police are expected to hold a news conference on the find on Friday.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crime_krqe_albuquerque_fifth_mesa_victim_identified_200904030832

 

[fran]

Family member: Fifth West Mesa body ID’ed

A woman contacting the Eyewitness News 4 newsroom this morning claims police have notified her family that her cousin has been identified as one of the people recovered from a lot on the city’s Southwest Mesa.
Albuquerque police spokesman John Walsh would neither confirm nor deny the claim but did say that more information about the investigation will be available later today.

<<<<<<<full article at link>>>>>>>>


http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S864283.shtml

 

[fran]

I thought this was most informative. Thank you to the poster leah on Topix. Notice the "Romero." That must be the latest victim 'id.'

What I find disturbing is that all those found and id'd are missing from the same year. They may want to try and id remains recovered with the two, IIRC, left missing from '04 and check the '03 and then the '05.

IMHO, they may have another killing field.

JMHO
fran



http://www.topix.com/forum/albuquerque/T0HE8CRBUNEHTM7KR

leah052006
Fort Worth, TX
Reply »
|Report Abuse |Judge it! |#2 57 min ago
Judged:
1
My sympathies to the Romero family.

These are the names of the missing women. Let their names not be forgotten.
1. Teresa Reyes missing 1998
2. Darlene Trujillo missing 2001
3. Sonia Lente missing 2002
4. Monica Candalaria missing 2003
5 . Doreen Marquez missing 2003
6 . Cinnamon Elks missing 2004 BODY IDENTIFIED
7. Veronia Romero missing 2004 BODY IDENTIFIED
8. Victoria Chavez missing 2004 BODY IDENTIFIED
9. Michelle Valdez missing 2004 BODY IDENTIFIED
10. Virgina Cloven missing 2004
11. Julie Neito missing 2004 BODY IDENTIFIED
12. Evelyn Salazar missing 2004
13. Jamie Barela missing 2004
14. Anna Vigil missing 2005
15. Felipa Gonzalez missing 2005
16. Nina Herron missing 2005
17. Shawntell Waites missing 2005
18. Vanessa Reid Lujan missing 2005
19. Leah Peebles missing 2006
20. Katrina Hurts missing 2006
OTHER ADULTS ALSO MISSING FROM ALBUQUERQUE
21. Betty Vigil Garcia missing 1998
22. Jeanette Maria De La Cruz missing 1999
23. Christine Julian missing 2003
24. Brenda Jeen Apalicio missing 2003

THESE TEENS CLASSIFIED AS ENDANGERED RUNAWAYS ARE ALSO MISSING FROM ALBUQUERQUE
25. Brittney Ann Jaramillo missing 2007..is 17 now
26. Danisha Renee Klug missing 2008..is 17 now
27. Johana Elvira Martinez missing 2008..is 17 now
28. Ashley Nichole Lopez missing 2008..is 18 now.
30. Xylonia Begay missing Feb. 2009..is 16 now
29. Amber Adelia Bittinger missing March 2009....
is 15 now.
Sources:
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
www.missingkids.com
National Center for Missing Adults
www.theyaremissed.org/

 

[Donjeta]

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S864283.shtml

says that Monica Candelaria has also been identified along with Veronica Romero, so that makes six that have been identified.

Investigators say that Monica Candelaria, who was 21 when she disappeared in 2004, and Veronica Romero, who was 27 when she also disappeared in 2004, are the fifth and sixth victims identified.
...
Police have been saying that they&#8217;ve recovered the remains of 12 people and a fetus during their two-month excavation, but Friday revised that to 11 people and a fetus.

ETA if the estimated burial time between 2000 to 2005 is correct none of those endangered runaways listed as missing during the last couple of years above are likely to be found here.

ETA some more: Which year did Candelaria go missing? Above it says 2003 and here 2004.

 

[Kat]

I had made some notes about the vic's that have already been ID'ed:

Monica Diana Candelaria, May 15, 2003

Victoria Ann Chavez, June 5, 2003.

Veronica Romero missing since 2004 (can't find a link for month or day)

Julie Neito, July 15, 2004

Cinnamon Elks, August 20, 2004.

Michelle Gina Valdez, September 22, 2004.

I put them Identified in order of their reported disapearances. Tight cluster so far timeline wise.

I need to find the month and if possible the day for Veronica R.

 

[Kat]

If you look at the women that are listed as missing in 2003 there are 2 from that year. Then there are 3 more that are missing from 2004. 5 more victims yet to be identifed. 5 missing women that fall between 2003-2004.

I find that interesting.

 

[Donjeta]

Is there any pattern re: days of the week?

 

[TxBecca]

Is there any pattern re: days of the week?

I had made some notes about the vic's that have already been ID'ed:

Monica Diana Candelaria, May 15, 2003 - Thursday

Victoria Ann Chavez, June 5, 2003. - Thursday

Veronica Romero missing since 2004 (can't find a link for month or day) - ??

Julie Neito, July 15, 2004 - Thursday

Cinnamon Elks, August 20, 2004. - Friday

Michelle Gina Valdez, September 22, 2004. - Wednesday

I put them Identified in order of their reported disapearances. Tight cluster so far timeline wise.

I need to find the month and if possible the day for Veronica R.

I looked up the day of the week for each of ther girls mentioned and added it to Kat's quote in bold.

 

[Bud]

I looked up the day of the week for each of ther girls mentioned and added it to Kat's quote in bold.

Weird... almost one girl for each month... middle of the month mid to late in the week.

 

[Kat]

I found this article dated 03 April 2009 and I found it interesting as it identifies a person that is said to have claimed that one of the missing women was "dead and taken out to the Mesa". (Prior to the discovery of the remains of these women out on the Mesa).


http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crime_krqe_albuquerque_2003_report_cites_possible_fould_play_200804031800

The report shows a log of interviews conducted by Bernalillo County Sheriff's investigators.

In one entry a deputy cites a conversation with Candelaria's mother:

"Mrs. Candelaria told me that she heard from a friend that a person known as 'Isaac' (Savadera) was talking at a local barbershop that he knew that 'Monica' was killed and where she was taken to in the 'mesa.'"

The report does not cite any interview with 'Isaac,'...

ETA: Please note that the man named in this article has not been named a POI or a suspect, and we can only assume that this report is rumor for now.

 

[Kat]

TXBecca thank you so much for adding to my OP of when these ladies went missing.

I found an article that stated the month and year of when Victoria R. went missing. I am going to copy and paste "our" work from above and add the date.

I had made some notes about the vic's that have already been ID'ed:

Monica Diana Candelaria, May 15, 2003 - Thursday

Victoria Ann Chavez, June 5, 2003. - Thursday

Veronica Romero missing since February 2004 (still need a day so we can find day of the week)

Julie Neito, July 15, 2004 - Thursday

Cinnamon Elks, August 20, 2004. - Friday

Michelle Gina Valdez, September 22, 2004. - Wednesday

Listed in Order of disappearance.

ETA: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jHoyOxB-E50OhIqc4aIyyfP0WNKQD97BAVH81

 

[Kat]

Last day that Victoria R. was seen Feb. 15, 2004.

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/04/04/New_Mexico_police_identify_two_more_bodies_that_were_found_buried_in_the_desert/

I think the 15th of FEB 2004 was a Sunday.

 

[Donjeta]

Last day that Victoria R. was seen Feb. 15, 2004.

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/04/04/New_Mexico_police_identify_two_more_bodies_that_were_found_buried_in_the_desert/

I think the 15th of FEB 2004 was a Sunday.

The same article says that Candelaria was last seen May 11 2003 and not 15 as in the previous list.

 

[Kat]

Donjeta I hope they come out with another article about the date Romero went missing, so we can have more than one source for the date.