Albuquerque Serial Killer – The West Mesa Bone Collector
Overview
The unidentified killer commonly known as the Albuquerque Serial Killer, West Mesa Serial Killer, or West Mesa Bone Collector is believed to be responsible for the murders of 11 women and girls whose skeletal remains were discovered on Albuquerque's West Mesa in 2009. The remains of an unborn child were also recovered with one of the victims. The killings became one of the largest and most disturbing unsolved homicide investigations in Albuquerque, New Mexico history.
The victims had disappeared over a relatively short period during the early and mid-2000s. Most were young women from the Albuquerque area, and many had histories involving drug use or sex work. This similarity led investigators to believe that the killer deliberately sought out women whose lifestyles made them particularly vulnerable to predators. One victim, 15-year-old Jamie Barela, had no known connection to drugs or prostitution and disappeared while accompanied by her cousin, Evelyn Salazar.
Despite years of investigation, searches, interviews, forensic examinations, and more than a thousand tips, no person has been convicted of the West Mesa murders. Investigators have examined several potential suspects, with Lorenzo Montoya and convicted rapist Joseph Blea receiving particular attention. Neither man, however, has ever been charged with killing the West Mesa victims, and authorities continue to officially describe the person or persons responsible as unknown.
The Discovery on West Mesa
On February 2, 2009, Albuquerque resident Christine Ross was walking with her dog, Ruca, on the city's west side when the dog discovered a large bone protruding from an earthen trail. Ross photographed the bone and contacted her sister, a registered nurse, who believed it resembled a human femur. Ross notified the Albuquerque Police Department, and officers soon confirmed that the bone was human.
The discovery transformed what initially appeared to be an isolated set of human remains into a massive excavation. Police and forensic investigators searched the undeveloped land near 118th Street SW and Dennis Chavez Boulevard. Over the following weeks, multiple makeshift graves were uncovered. Ultimately, investigators recovered the skeletal remains of 11 women and girls along with the remains of the unborn child of one victim.
The burial area became an enormous crime scene. Investigators carefully excavated the desert soil, attempting to recover anything that might identify the dead or reveal who had transported and buried them there. The advanced decomposition of the remains severely limited what forensic specialists could determine. The deaths were officially classified as resulting from homicidal violence, but authorities have not established or publicly disclosed an exact method of death for each woman.
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