On December 3, 2023, 43-year-old Abel Patrick Tarin of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was reported missing after failing to appear for his job at Sam's Club—a deviation from his reliable character that raised immediate concern among his family and friends.
A witness reported seeing Tarin's 2018 silver GMC Yukon, accompanied by an unknown individual near the vehicle's passenger side, but without Tarin present.
On December 13, 2023, authorities discovered Tarin's body in a desert area near Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. The investigation, involving multiple agencies including the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, FBI El Paso, El Paso Police Department, and U.S. Army CID Fort Bliss Office, determined that Tarin had been the victim of a fatal carjacking.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Brayden Matthew Alvarado, confessed to orchestrating a meeting with Tarin under false pretenses, intending to steal his vehicle. Alvarado recounted that after Tarin picked him up in Las Cruces and drove to Burn Lake, he used a pellet gun to threaten Tarin and commandeer the vehicle. Alvarado then forced Tarin to drive to El Paso, during which Tarin pleaded for his life. Upon reaching a secluded desert location near Fort Bliss, Alvarado fatally shot Tarin with a shotgun and disposed of his body beside a thorn bush. Alvarado subsequently used Tarin's vehicle for several days until it was towed on December 6. Fingerprints retrieved from the impounded vehicle matched Alvarado's, leading to his arrest on December 22 in El Paso.
Alvarado faces federal charges, including one count of kidnapping resulting in death, and has been released to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.
In the wake of this tragedy, the Las Cruces community held a vigil to honor Tarin's memory, reflecting on his life and the impact of his loss.
Tarin's death has prompted discussions about cross-state criminal activities and the importance of collaborative law enforcement efforts to address and prevent such heinous crimes. As the legal proceedings against Alvarado continue, the community remains united in seeking justice for Abel Patrick Tarin.
