Eddie Joe Artiaga, a 37-year-old resident of Alamogordo, New Mexico, was reported missing on September 18, 2020. His disappearance triggered a series of events that would ultimately reveal a gruesome and shocking crime. Artiaga, who had recently suffered critical injuries, including severed fingers and a broken pelvis after being hit by a semi-truck, had been using drugs to cope with his pain, according to his cousin.
The investigation into Artiaga's disappearance led police to conduct a
welfare check on his cousin, Steven Gonzalez, at his residence in Alamogordo. On September 25, 2020, when police visited Gonzalez's trailer in the 400 block of Post Avenue, they were initially unaware of the horrific scene they were about to uncover. During the initial visit, officers did not notice any signs of a crime, despite the presence of blood and other evidence. It was only after a follow-up call and further investigation that the true extent of the crime became apparent.
Upon a more thorough search of the premises, police discovered Artiaga's decapitated and dismembered body in Gonzalez's trailer. Additionally, they found a wallet containing Artiaga's ID and credit cards on a table in the house, which had been placed there by Gonzalez's mother. This discovery linked the missing person case to the crime scene at Gonzalez's residence.
Steven Gonzalez, who is Artiaga's cousin, became the primary suspect in the murder and dismemberment of Eddie Joe Artiaga. Gonzalez has a history of behavioral and health issues, including potential brain damage, as mentioned by his family. During the police interaction, Gonzalez made spontaneous statements without being asked any questions, which could be admissible in court. Despite these interactions, it was clear that the officers had missed critical evidence during their initial visit, including blood-stained plastic totes and buckets, which were later found to contain disturbing contents.
Gonzalez was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with Artiaga's murder. He was indicted on one count of second-degree murder and was scheduled to be arraigned on June 27, 2022.
The case highlights significant lapses in the initial police investigation, including the failure to notice obvious signs of a crime scene during the first welfare check. The discovery of Artiaga's body and the subsequent arrest of Steven Gonzalez brought a grim conclusion to the search for the missing man, revealing a tragic and violent end to his life.
