Cops: Child saw mom beaten to death

CUBA, N.M. (KRQE) - A mother of six was beaten to death in front of one of her children inside their Cuba home Wednesday morning, New Mexico State Police reported.

Two other kids were in the mobile home at the time, and police were looking for Mellie Trujillo's live-in boyfriend as a suspect in her murder.

Jose Pinto, 43, was believed to be headed for the community of Torreón in western Sandoval County. They later located Jose Pinto on Navajo Tribal land by state police and Navajo police. He was arrested in the flat lands of Ojo Encino without incident. Police must work with Navajo Tribal Officials for extradition for him to be booked in a state facility.

Police were called to the woman's home on Main Street just before 6 a.m. Investigators said Trujillo, about 29, was beaten to death with a blunt object. Many people gathered near the scene during the day. Members of the Trujillo's family told News 13 the couple was well-known in Cuba.

They said the two would often attend church together. Trujillo was originally from the Navajo Nation community of Ojo Encino and worked at both the Phillip's 66 gas station and Subway sandwich shop near her home.

Subway manager Ruth Yazzi described Trujillo as a dependable, hard worker and added that she never mentioned any problems at home.

"She was happy with everything," Yazzie said. "She never complained about any of her family or anything like that; the boyfriend or anything like that. She was always happy. She never complained about anything."

The woman's family said she leaves behind four boys and two girls. The kids are in state custody, but state police said they will soon be released to family members.