On May 19, 2024, the body of Jesus Quintana Cota, a 16-year-old Hispanic male, was discovered in a remote area of Pajarito Mesa outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. An autopsy determined he had died from at least one gunshot wound. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office initially faced challenges identifying the young man, but a breakthrough came when his family filed a missing person’s report, allowing investigators to confirm his identity and begin a homicide investigation.
Investigators learned that on May 18, Jesus had been lured to a location believing he was going on a date with a young woman. Instead, he was met by a group of teens who kidnapped, beat, and robbed him. According to statements made to law enforcement, the group then drove Jesus out to the mesa, where he was shot and killed. Detectives found evidence that the attack was planned on social media, possibly as revenge for an earlier incident in which Jesus had allegedly shot at one of the suspect's cars.
On June 27, 2024, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office arrested three teenage suspects in connection with the murder. They were identified as 18-year-old Daniel Medrano Garcia, 17-year-old Dominik Marquez, and 18-year-old Mariana Gomez-Salinas. All three faced a range of felony charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy, and tampering with evidence. A judge ordered them to remain in custody while awaiting trial, and the District Attorney’s Office announced its intention to try all three as adults.
The cases against the three defendants were resolved over the following year and a half. In September 2025, Dominik Marquez pleaded guilty to his involvement in the murder and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. The next month, Mariana Gomez-Salinas went before a jury. She was acquitted of the murder charge but was convicted of kidnapping, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy. For those crimes, she received an 18-year prison sentence.
The final case concluded in 2026 when Daniel Medrano Garcia pleaded no contest to charges including first-degree murder, conspiracy, and armed robbery. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison. His sentencing in March 2026 brought the last of the criminal proceedings to a close.
