On July 7, 2014, a tragic incident unfolded in Clovis, New Mexico, when the body of 33-year-old Jose Barrera was discovered in a vacant residence. The discovery was made by a property manager who had gone to check on the house located at 413 N. Sheldon St. in central Clovis. Upon entering the house, the property manager found legs protruding from a bathroom doorway, which led her to discover the deceased body of Jose Barrera on the bathroom floor.
The scene was immediately reported to the authorities, and the Clovis Police Department Dispatch Center received the 911 call at approximately 12:20 p.m.
The investigation into Barrera's death was promptly initiated by the 9th Judicial District Major Crimes Unit, which includes the District Attorney's Office Investigators, the Clovis Police Department, the Curry County Sheriff's Office, and the Portales Police Department. The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator was also notified and responded to the scene. The preliminary findings indicated that Barrera had died from a gunshot wound to the head, and the death was classified as a homicide due to the suspicious circumstances and the presence of significant blood at the scene.
During the investigation, several individuals were identified as persons of interest. These included Frank Campos, 42, of Clovis, and Lorenzo Medina 37, of Clovis. On July 10, 2014, Eric Valdez, also known as 'Spanky,' 40, of Clovis, was added to the list of persons of interest. The police sought assistance from the public in locating these individuals and encouraged anyone with information to contact the Clovis Police Department or submit tips through various channels.
The breakthrough in the case came on July 11, 2014, when Eric Valdez was taken into custody on an unrelated charge. During an interview with detectives at the Clovis Police Station, Valdez acknowledged his involvement in the homicide and confessed to being the shooter. The motive behind the murder was revealed to be a conflict between Barrera and Valdez involving Valdez's minor daughter. Valdez was subsequently charged with an open count of First Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence. He was booked into the Curry County Detention Center with a bond set at $100,000 cash.
In the following year, on May 12, 2015, Eric Valdez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Jose Barrera. The plea hearing was presided over by Judge Drew D. Tatum, who sentenced Valdez to 15 years in prison. This conclusion marked the end of an intense investigation conducted by the Major Crimes Unit, which had worked diligently to bring justice to the family and friends of Jose Barrera.
