Beneath the Desert Dust: The Unsolved Tragedy of the West Mesa Bone Collector

The Discovery: A Dog Walk Turns Grim

On February 2, 2009, Christine Ross was walking her dog, Ruca, along a desolate stretch of Albuquerque's West Mesa when Ruca unearthed a bone. Initially uncertain, Ross sent a photo to her sister, a nurse, who confirmed it was human. This chance discovery led to the unearthing of a mass grave containing the remains of eleven women and an unborn child, marking the beginning of one of New Mexico's most haunting unsolved cases.

The Victims: Lives Lost in Silence

The victims, aged between 15 and 32, were primarily Hispanic women from the Albuquerque area. Many had histories involving sex work or drug use, factors that often rendered them invisible to society. Among them were Jamie Barela, 15, and her cousin Evelyn Salazar, 27, who disappeared together in 2004. Another victim, Michelle Valdez, was four months pregnant at the time of her death. ...Read More

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