On July 21, 2021, a tragic incident occurred in Albuquerque, New Mexico, resulting in the death of 32-year-old Catherine Amanda Sanchez. The incident took place at her apartment located at 6001 Topke Pl., N.E., in the Northeast Heights area. Catherine Sanchez was fatally shot in the face while she was sitting on her couch, a horrific scene witnessed by her own children.
The suspect in this case is Steven Archuleta Jr., who is Catherine Sanchez's brother.
Born on May 20, 1991, Archuleta Jr. was arrested by the Albuquerque Police Department after he voluntarily turned himself in. On the night of October 9, 2021, Archuleta Jr. called 911 and informed the authorities that he had murdered his sister in July. During the call, he expressed his desire to commit suicide due to the guilt of his actions and mentioned that he was armed with a black handgun. Responding officers from the Northeast Area Command took Archuleta Jr. into custody at his home.
Following his arrest, Archuleta Jr. was interviewed by APD Homicide detectives and subsequently booked into the Metro Detention Center on charges of an open count of murder and tampering with evidence. The criminal complaint revealed that the alleged motive behind the killing was an incident involving Catherine Sanchez's daughter, although the specific details of this incident are not fully elaborated in the available sources.
Archuleta Jr.'s confession and subsequent arrest marked a significant development in the investigation, which had been ongoing since the July 21 shooting. The APD had been actively investigating the case, and Archuleta Jr.'s decision to turn himself in provided the breakthrough needed to bring charges against him. He was held without bond as his pretrial detention hearing was pending.
In March 2022, Steven Archuleta Jr. pleaded not guilty to the felony charges of murder and tampering with evidence related to his sister's death. This plea was entered during a court hearing, where Archuleta Jr. maintained his innocence despite his earlier confession to the police.
The family of Catherine Sanchez has been deeply affected by her death, with her stepson, Cyruize Galbreth, expressing the emotional toll the incident has taken on the family, especially the young children who witnessed the shooting. The community also rallied around the family, with efforts to raise money to cover the funeral costs for Catherine Sanchez.
