On Saturday, March 28, 2026, 31-year-old Elijah Martinez was found deceased in Sapello, New Mexico. New Mexico State Police responded to a report of a deceased male at approximately 10:39 a.m. and discovered evidence at the scene indicating that Martinez was the victim of a homicide.
Investigators quickly identified Elijah's older brother, 33-year-old Jaime Gilbert Martinez, as the suspect in the killing.
Authorities determined that Jaime Martinez had fled to the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area following his brother's death. The New Mexico State Police requested assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, who located the suspect at a residence in Lakewood, Colorado.
On Sunday, March 29, 2026, after a prolonged standoff, Jaime Gilbert Martinez was taken into custody. The arrest was a coordinated effort involving the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Lakewood Police Department, the Wheat Ridge Police Department, the Colorado State Patrol, and West Metro SWAT. Jaime Martinez was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. He is currently being held in Colorado, awaiting extradition to New Mexico to face the charges against him. At the time of his death, Elijah Martinez was reportedly out on bail while awaiting trial for a 2024 murder charge.
