Faith Flores was a vibrant 14-year-old Hispanic girl from Chamisal, New Mexico, who loved sports and spending time outdoors. Her family described her as adventurous, fearless, and full of life, with a radiant smile that melted hearts. Her older sister, Ayesha, called Faith her best friend and twin, remembering her as a wild and caring teen who loved fashion and always had to look her best.
Faith’s life was cut short during a violent encounter on July 25, 2024.
That summer evening, Faith was spending time with a family member, 69-year-old Ruben Martinez, and riding his four-wheeler. The two got into a confrontation with Ruben’s 76-year-old brother, Manuel Laurencio Martinez, at his home on Puertocito Road in Chamisal. According to court documents, Manuel believed Faith was trespassing on his property and tried to confront her. The altercation escalated, and both Ruben and Faith were shot.
Around 8 p.m., New Mexico State Police received two emergency calls. One led them to a smoke shop on State Road 75 in the nearby community of Peñasco, where they found Faith in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. She died from her injuries. The second call brought officers to the Puertocito Road address in Chamisal, where they discovered Ruben Martinez dead in the driveway from at least one gunshot wound.
While at the Chamisal scene, officers were approached by Manuel Martinez, who admitted his involvement in the shootings. He allegedly told police, “I killed Ruben and shot that girl. I’m tired of them abusing me!” Investigators found a revolver on the seat of his truck. When later asked if he regretted his actions, he reportedly said that he did. Manuel Martinez was arrested and taken into custody at the Taos County Adult Detention Center.
Manuel Martinez was initially charged with two open counts of murder. Prosecutors later dismissed those charges without prejudice to allow the state more time to analyze evidence, and he was placed on conditional release. In May 2025, the state refiled the charges against him. A grand jury subsequently indicted Manuel Laurencio Martinez on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his brother and Faith Flores.
Faith’s family held a candlelight vigil to honor her memory, mourning the loss of a girl whose life seemed too short. Her sister Ayesha expressed the family’s pain and their hope for accountability, stating, “I just want to be sure justice is served and he pays for what he did to my sister.” As of July 2025, Manuel Martinez was awaiting trial on the first-degree murder charges.
