Fiesta murder of hair stylist goes cold

SANTA FE (KRQE) - The three-year-old murder of a popular beauty salon owner has turned ice cold after witness statements led to dead ends and a sketch of a possible suspect may not be the person police are looking for.

In 2009 police started investigating the death of Santa Fe business owner Gilbert Roybal . He was brutally beaten and left to die on a downtown sidewalk during the Santa Fe Fiesta weekend.

He died a short time later at a local hospital.

Wednesday morning church bells tolled during a mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Fe to remember the anniversary of Roybal's death. Its now three years later and still no answers.

“We have had no leads,” Sgt Andrea Dobyns said.

Santa Fe police said witnesses described Roybal and a man arguing earlier the night of the beating.  The witnesses said Roybal tried to walk away and that is when the suspect ran up and hit him full force.

In 2009, a sketch of a possible suspect was the focus for detectives. Today Dobyns said police are not so sure that is the man they are looking for.

Police said leads dried up in 2010, and as each year passes the chances of them finding the killer seem out of reach.

“Even on the day that it did happen, it’s hard for us to get good information about witnesses, but the more time that passes the harder it is,” Dobyns said.

Police hope as time has passed the suspect has talked.

“A lot of times when something like this happens people brag about it or confide in somebody,” Dobyns continued.

Dobyns said detectives hope that someone or a new witness will come forward, a hope Roybal's mother has had since 2010.

“If that person has any heart at all please come forward and start you're own healing with us,” Georgia Roybal said.

Police said they have also investigated if this was a hate crime because they say Roybal was gay.

Police are asking anyone with information to call detectives.