Family claims man confessed to mother's murder

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE) - Relatives say the main suspect in the disappearance of a young mother confessed to them that he killed her. But, months later, State Police say they are still working the case and don't have enough to go on.

“She said 'Dad I'll be back in a minute' and she never came back,” her father Jessie Rivera told News 13 in August.

That was on June 30th when Cindy Rivera left her home in Las Vegas wearing only pajamas.

“It's a difficult case because they don't have a lot of go on,” State Police Lt. Robert McDonald said.

But her family says a police report they just found out about could be the key to solving the case. The family has long suspected two men of kidnapping and killing the 19-year-old mom; a former high school track star known as Tig.

In fact, the family even posted photos of the men all over the small northern New Mexico town.

News 13 is not naming them since they haven't been charged.

According to the report a family member of the father of Cindy Rivera’s children says the young man showed up the day after Cindy disappeared, covered in scratches and wearing only boxer shorts. He said he killed Cindy and needed help getting a room in Albuquerque.

The relative told police she purchased a hotel room at the La Quinta Inn off Gibson for the man. State police immediately had Albuquerque Police go there, but when they got here they said the room was empty and it looked like the guy had just split.

State Police have searched his home near Las Vegas where authorities believe Rivera's body may be buried.

Police say they still need more information, and that this case is far from the back burner.

“We can't just go off what people say - rumors stuff like that - that's not how it works,” said Lt. McDonald. “We have to be able to build a case and take it to court and win that case. We can't just go off of what people say or what they think they may have happened. ”

Cindy's family says at this point they just want answers.

“Please have sympathy on me and let me know where my daughter is,” said Rivera's father.

The men the family believes are behind the murder are not talking to investigators. 

Cindy Rivera’s family has raised a ten-thousand dollar reward for information that helps police solve the case.