West Mesa Bone Collector

Serial Killer

The West Mesa Bone Collector: Unsolved Serial Murders in Albuquerque

Discovery of the Crime Scene

On February 2, 2009, a woman walking her dog in the West Mesa area of Albuquerque, New Mexico, stumbled upon a human bone. This grim discovery led authorities to unearth the remains of eleven women and an unborn child buried in shallow graves across a 92-acre area. The victims, aged between 15 and 32, had disappeared between 2001 and 2005. Most were Hispanic and had connections to drugs and sex work, making them vulnerable targets for a predator who became known as the "West Mesa Bone Collector."

Identified Victims

• Monica Candelaria, 22 – Disappeared on May 15, 2003. Friends reported hearing rumors of her murder and burial in the West Mesa area.
• Victoria Chavez, 26 – Last seen in 2003. She was the first victim to be identified among the remains.
• Syllannia Edwards, 15 – A runaway from Lawton, Oklahoma, last seen in May 2004. She was the only African American victim and the only one from out of state.
• Doreen Marquez, 27 – Last seen in October 2003. She had two daughters and had recently begun struggling with drug addiction.
• Veronica Romero, 27 – Reported missing on February 14, 2004. She had five children at the time of her disappearance.
• Evelyn Salazar, 23 – Disappeared in April 2004 alongside her cousin, Jamie Barela. She was a mother of two and was last seen walking toward a park.
• Jamie Barela, 15 – Cousin of Evelyn Salazar, last seen in April 2004. Unlike most other victims, she had no known involvement in drugs or sex work.
• Virginia Cloven, 22 – Last heard from in June 2004. She had faced personal tragedies, including the murder of her brother, which led to her running away from home.
• Cinnamon Elks, 31 – Last seen around July 2004 after being released from the Metropolitan Detention Center. She had two children and struggled with drug addiction.
• Julie Nieto, 23 – Last seen in August 2004 at her grandfather's house. She had a young son and was described as a devoted mother.
• Michelle Valdez, 22 – Last seen in September 2004. She was four months pregnant at the time of her death.

Investigation and Suspects

The investigation into these murders has faced numerous challenges, primarily due to the victims' high-risk lifestyles and the lack of immediate reports when they went missing. Several suspects have been considered over the years:

• Lorenzo Montoya – Lived less than three miles from the burial site. In 2006, he strangled a sex worker in his trailer and was subsequently shot and killed by the woman's boyfriend. Notably, the West Mesa murders ceased after his death.
• Joseph Blea – Known as the "Mid-School Rapist" for attacking young girls in the 1980s. In 2015, his DNA was found on a sex worker's body. Additionally, a tree tag found near the burial site was traced to a nursery Blea frequented. He is currently serving a 36-year sentence for unrelated crimes.

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Confirmed Victims: (11)

Jamie Barela Age: (15), Date of Death: 2004-03-26

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West Mesa murders - Wikipedia

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