Man dies days after attacked, mugged

CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE) - Police in southeastern New Mexico are investigating a robbery case that may turn into a homicide case.

A 61-year-old Clovis man was robbed and badly beaten in an alleyway. Two days after he was released from the hospital, he died.

Family members say 61-year-old Joe Garcia was a fun-loving grandfather, uncle, brother, and dad. "My dad was a good guy, he cared about everybody," said Garcia's daughter, Paula Castillo. "My dad didn't deserve this, nobody deserves this, they took him away from us too fast, and for what -- an empty wallet and a cell phone."

Castillo said her dad went to a Clovis store last Friday on Mitchell Street to buy toilet paper. Police said it was just before 8 a.m. when someone tackled and beat Garcia in an alleyway near an Allsup's and then took off with his phone and empty wallet.

Police said after Garcia was robbed and beaten, he walked roughly four blocks back to his apartment with severe head injuries. His jaw was broken in three places, and he suffered bleeding from his brain.  

Garcia was taken to a Lubbock hospital trauma center and treated for injuries. He was released the next day.  

"Even though he was in pain, he just like toughed it out," recalled Castillo.

She said Garcia still had headaches and was scheduled for surgery this week.  
    
Castillo said doctors believed he would be alright, but Monday evening things changed.

"I laid him down on the couch and took his slippers off and I covered him, and I said are you going to be ok, and he said yeah," Castillo recalled.

That night, Garcia stopped breathing.
     
An ambulance was called, and medical crews attempted to revive Garcia, to no avail. Garcia was pronounced dead a short time later.      
     
Now police are trying to find out who attacked Garcia Friday, and confirm if the attack had anything to do with his death.

"We have good leads at this point, and that's what they're working on right now," said Captain Patrick Whitney, of the Clovis Police Department.

Garcia's family said they find comfort that his last days were at home with them, but Castillo wants justice.

"He's gone and it's not fair, it's not, and I promised him today that I'd make sure that whoever did this is going to pay for it," said Castillo. "I will never let this go until we catch who did this."

Garcia's body was taken to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque to determine the cause of death. Days before Garcia was mugged, another Clovis man claims he was hit and robbed in front of his house.

Police said they're investigating whether the attacks are related. No suspects have been identified so far.