A quiet Sunday afternoon in the small community of Tijeras, New Mexico, was shattered by violence on October 13, 2024, leading to the tragic death of 51-year-old Bertha Nancy Mestre. She, along with her 46-year-old husband, Raymundo Mestre, and their 17-year-old daughter, Breille, were found deceased in what authorities have described as a horrific act of violence at their family home on Young Road.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the residence at approximately
2:14 p.m. after receiving a report of multiple gunshots. Upon their arrival, deputies encountered a disturbing scene. They found the couple's 24-year-old son, Adlai Mestre, exiting the house. He was allegedly in possession of a handgun and a loaded magazine. During his detainment, Adlai Mestre reportedly made a chilling confession to the officers, stating, "I killed them and was going to bury them".
Inside the home, investigators discovered evidence of a violent struggle, including bloodstains and indications that someone had attempted to clean the scene. The bodies of Bertha, Raymundo, and Breille were not inside the house but were later located in a small ravine, or arroyo, about 50 yards from the home. All three victims had suffered apparent gunshot wounds. The family's dog was also found inside the residence, having been shot and severely injured, and unfortunately had to be euthanized.
Adlai Mestre was taken into custody and subsequently arrested. He faces a multitude of charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of tampering with evidence, and one count of extreme cruelty to animals. During questioning, he made a series of bizarre statements to investigators, referencing "seismic waves" and claiming he had been shooting at cell towers. Authorities noted that Adlai Mestre had a history of mental health treatment, having previously been hospitalized, though he had not reportedly exhibited homicidal or suicidal tendencies at that time. The firearm recovered at the scene was a handgun that had been legally purchased by his mother, Bertha, several years prior in Texas. Shortly after being taken into custody, Adlai Mestre briefly escaped an interview room by punching and kicking a hole through a wall before being quickly apprehended by detectives in the hallway.
