Do you know who murdered Eric Manning? Eric Manning, an African-American male, 37, was found dead on May 20, 2017, in Albuquerque after officers responded to a “down and out” call near Montgomery and I-25. His body was discovered in an arroyo along the North Diversion Channel, in the area of Montgomery and Carlisle, and investigators determined he had been stabbed to death. Police publicly identified him and asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers as they began treating the case as a homicide.
By year's end, detectives had linked Manning's killing to a troubling pattern: three homeless men slain in similar fashion, their bodies found in comparable positions. In addition to Manning in May, Lonnie Whittle was discovered in August and Eric Hicks in September; all three were fatally stabbed, and investigators noted the victims' post-crime “staging” appeared alike, though they declined to describe specifics. The department emphasized outreach to the homeless community for tips that might break the case.
Authorities did not announce any arrests or name a suspect in Manning's death at the time, and early coverage described the investigation as having “no leads.” The appeal for information remained the central public message as detectives worked to determine who was responsible and whether a single assailant might have been targeting vulnerable men living on the streets.
