Chrystal Gayle Moore, a 40-year-old resident of Hobbs, New Mexico, was found dead in her home on July 8, 2019, along with another victim, Rojelio Velasquez, aged 37. The incident was part of a double homicide that shook the community.
The investigation into the murders was conducted by the Hobbs Police Department. Officers were notified by an unknown person about the possible death of Velasquez and were directed to the residence where the bodies were found.
Upon arrival, police discovered Velasquez sitting on a couch with a blanket covering his face and chest, revealing a bullet wound above his left ear. Moore was found lying on the bed near Velasquez, also with a gunshot wound near her left ear. The scene indicated that the home had been rummaged through, with spent. 40 caliber bullet casings and bullet holes in the walls, and several live rounds scattered throughout the hallway.
The investigation led to the identification of Hector Madrid, 41, of Hobbs, as the primary suspect. Madrid and an associate, Alfonso Aldaco, had visited the residence to purchase heroin. Surveillance video from the night of the incident showed a pickup truck arriving at the residence around 11:38 p.m., with Velasquez answering the door and an unknown male, later identified as Madrid, entering the house. Approximately five minutes later, the same male was seen exiting the house and fleeing in the pickup truck.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Aldaco had contacted a family member via Facebook Messenger on July 8, 2019, expressing fear of Madrid's behavior. Aldaco described Madrid as someone who 'snaps in and out of it' and mentioned that Madrid had tried to shoot him earlier, prompting Aldaco to jump out of the vehicle. Both Madrid and Aldaco fled to Lubbock after the incident, with Madrid still in possession of a. 40 caliber gun. Aldaco eventually turned himself in to the Hobbs Police Department, while Madrid was arrested by law enforcement in Lubbock.
Madrid was originally charged with two counts of first-degree murder but later pleaded to two counts of voluntary manslaughter, both third-degree felonies. This plea was accepted due to the challenges of proceeding to trial under COVID-19 restrictions and the reliance on an eyewitness's testimony. As part of his plea, Madrid was sentenced to seven years in a Department of Corrections facility, with an additional three years of jail time suspended and supervised probation. He received credit for 544 days of jail time already served.
Aldaco was also arrested in connection with the crime, but the charges against him were dismissed without prejudice on August 8, 2019.
In summary, the deaths of Chrystal Moore and Rojelio Velasquez were the result of a violent incident involving drug transactions and culminated in a double homicide. Hector Madrid was identified as the primary suspect, and his associate, Alfonso Aldaco, was initially implicated but later had his charges dismissed. Madrid's plea and subsequent sentencing brought some closure to the case, though the tragic loss of two lives remains a significant impact on the community.
