On February 10, 1990, a tragic and devastating event occurred at the Las Cruces Bowling Alley in Las Cruces, New Mexico, which would become known as the Las Cruces bowling alley massacre. Among the victims was 13-year-old Amy Aileen Houser, who lost her life in this horrific incident.
Amy Houser was at the bowling alley that morning because she and her 12-year-old friend Melissa Repass were planning to supervise the alley's day care. The bowling alley's manager, Stephanie C.
Senac, who was also Melissa's mother, was preparing to open the business. As the day began, two unidentified men entered the bowling alley through an unlocked door. One of the gunmen pulled a. 22 caliber pistol on Ida Holguin, the alley's cook, and ordered her into Senac's office, where she, Repass, and Houser were already being held by the other gunman. The situation escalated when Steve Teran, the alley's 26-year-old pin mechanic, entered the office with his two daughters, Paula and Valerie Teran, intending to drop them off at the day care. Upon encountering the crime scene, Teran was also taken hostage by the gunmen.
The gunmen then ordered all the victims to lie down and proceeded to rob the bowling alley, taking approximately $4,000 to $5,000 from the safe. In a brutal and senseless act, the gunmen shot all seven victims multiple times at point-blank range. Amy Houser, along with Paula Holguin and Steven Teran, died at the scene. Valerie Teran was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Despite being shot five times, Melissa Repass managed to call 9-1-1 on the office phone, which allowed emergency services to respond immediately and save her life, as well as those of her mother and Ida Holguin. However, Stephanie Senac would later succumb to her injuries in 1999.
The perpetrators of this heinous crime remain unknown. The only descriptions available are that the two gunmen were Hispanic males with dark complexions. Despite extensive efforts by the Las Cruces Police Department, including setting up roadblocks and conducting a thorough search of the area with the assistance of the U.S. Customs Service, Army, and Border Patrol, no arrests have been made. The case has been featured on various crime informational series, including 'Unsolved Mysteries' and 'America's Most Wanted,' in hopes of gathering new information, but it remains unsolved as of the current date.
The investigation into the Las Cruces bowling alley massacre is still active, with the police department utilizing new technologies and forensic evaluations to try and solve the case. Detective Amador Martinez, who has been leading the investigation, emphasized that the case is not considered a cold case but is instead very active, with ongoing efforts to gather new evidence and tips. The Las Cruces Police Department continues to urge anyone with information to come forward, offering avenues for anonymous tips through Las Cruces Crime Stoppers.
The tragedy of Amy Houser's death and the ongoing mystery surrounding the identities of her killers continue to haunt the community of Las Cruces. The case has been documented in a full-length documentary film titled 'A Nightmare in Las Cruces,' which includes actual crime scene footage, pictures, and interviews with family members, in the hope that it might prompt someone to come forward with fresh information and finally bring closure to the victims' families.
