APD: Missing school teacher found dead

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque police discovered the body of missing school teacher Elen Roth Friday morning, and four people have been arrested for her death.

Police said tips led them Friday morning to the remains of Roth, 61, in the Jemez Mountains off of Highway four near Valles Caldera

The Office of the Medical Investigator was on the scene all of Friday to handle the remains.

Roth went missing in May. Police found her van abandoned at an apartment across town with the key left in the ignition. The license plates were replaced with ones stolen from another vehicle.

So far, four suspects have been arrested in the case including her son's wife Cathleen Nielson-Roth. The other suspects are James Johnson, Chris Donovan and Bella Gonzales.

Police have also arrested the victim's son Bryan Roth on charges of larceny and fraudulent use of credit cards.

His role in the investigation is not clear because was in jail on a probation violation when police said his mother was murdered.

The victim's niece, Jessica Feder, and Roth's coworkers at Chelwood Elementary never gave up trying to find her.

Friday afternoon, Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz explained they got a tip that that they'd find Roth's body in the Jemez.

Police said Roth was attacked and killed as she left for work on May 4, 2009. Schultz did not describe how she was killed but said it was violent.

"All the subjects in this case they had a pact and had promised not to disclose what had happened," Schultz said.

Even though Bryan Roth was in jail during the murder, police said they believe he knew about the killing—at least after it happened.

Detectives said they think Roth was killed because she planned to press charges against her son for using her credit cards and checks.

Police said anonymous tips linked Chris Donovan to the killing, and when detectives questioned him, he eventually broke and told them what happened.