Teen not murderer, grandmother says

BELEN, N. M. (KRQE) - A Belen man has been charged with murder although his grandmother contends he only was trying to help a man they found severely beaten in their yard.

Jacob Sanchez, 19, is being held without bond on an open count of murder in the death of José Sauceda, 51. Police said they believe the beating occurred in the yard on Orchard Road after an argument.

They said Sanchez had evidence of the crime on his body but wouldn't elaborate.

Sanchez lives at the home with his grandmother who also was home Monday night. She told KRQE News 13 police have it all wrong.

"Then all of a sudden he looked through window and he said, 'Somebody is laying down on the floor, Grandma,' and I said, 'Who?'" the grandmother who asked not to be identified by name said. "He looked outside and he said, 'Oh, it's Punchy.'"

Punchy was Sauceda's nickname, she added.

"I told him, 'Why don't' you go check on him to see if he's breathing or he's passed out? It's cold out there and he can freeze,'" the grandmother continued. "So he came out here and he said, 'He's snoring away, Mom. He's drunk."

Sanchez's grandmother says that wasn't alarming because it happens a lot.

"He's done it before," she said. "He's been passed out here.

"He's come over beaten all the time, a black eye or cut eye or his mouth cut open."

The booking photo showed Sanchez with a black eye, but the grandmother said that didn't come from a fight. Instead Sanchez, who is bipolar, hurt himself on Saturday, she said.  She also said she'll give that information to Jacob's attorney because they plan to fight the murder charges.

When asked about the grandmother's statements, police said they still believe they have the right guy. News 13 was unable to track down Sauceda's family for comment.