Home of missing woman's ex searched

LOS LUNAS, N.M. (KRQE) - Los Lunas police have named a man a person of interest in the April disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.

Warrant in hand, investigators from the Los Lunas Police Department and the New Mexico State Police searched the home of Joe Easley on Saturday afternoon, looking for evidence in the disappearance of Sandra Sanchez, 43.

“If in fact our person of interest is innocent, this will prove he is innocent,” said Chief Roy Melnick of Los Lunas police. “If he is guilty or knows something, withholding something, we are hoping to find some clues and perhaps he will cooperate at a later date.”

Melnick said they brought in state police investigators to help because they have special equipment and experience.

Sanchez was last seen the evening of April 3 at Easley’s home, according to police.

It’s the second time this month Easley’s home has been searched. The first time, he had consented to it.

According to police, Easley had been cooperating with their investigation, but had stopped helping.

Family and police have also been searching for Sanchez’s car, a dark green 1995 Chevy Lumina with New Mexico license plate JJA205.

Police aren’t releasing any information about what they found during the search because the investigation is still ongoing.