Murder suspect dead in burned trailer

ESPAÑOLA, N.M. (KRQE) - Rio Arriba County Sheriff Tommy Rodella says the prime suspect in a double homicide is dead.

In an interview Thursday morning Rodella told KRQE News 13 Tomas J. Sanchez, 20, was one of the people found dead inside a trailer that had been set on fire in Medanales over the weekend.

Sanchez, the sheriff said, was the No. 1 suspect in the murders of two men in Hernandez on Dec. 10 .

The victims in that case, Matthew Maestas and Joseph "Geno" Valdez, were found brutally murdered in a trailer.

"Each one of the victims was shot no less than five times with one shot to the head," Rodella said.  "One of the victims was found on his knees."

The killers then tried to set the trailer on fire.  Rodella said his deputies saw smoke and went to investigate stumbling upon the gruesome scene.

Through tips and confidential sources, deputies were able to identify Sanchez as the prime suspect.  While they were trying to track him down they got word of another trailer fire, this one in Medanales.  Medical investigators have not yet determined whether the deaths were accidental or from foul play.

"Sanchez was one of the victims in the Medanales unattended deaths," said Rodella.

State Police are handling that case and at this point are only saying the deaths are suspicious.

Rodella said he believes all four deaths are related to the ongoing drug problem in Rio Arriba County.

"I think the Mexican cartel is alive and well in our communities," Rodella said.

The sheriff does not have any information to show the second victim in the Medanales fire was the second suspect in the Hernandez double murder.  They are still trying to identify that suspect.

As for how Sanchez and the other person died, State Police are still waiting for autopsy results to find that out.