West Mesa murder victim’s kids honor moms

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - From singing on YouTube to a ‘Hip Hopera’ some of the West Mesa murder victim’s kids are using their mothers’ deaths as a way to help others.

A video of Michelle Valdez’s daughter Angelica singing was posted just before mother’s day.

It was a tribute to Valdez, one of the 11 West Mesa murder victims.

The 15-year-old never really got a chance to know her mom.

More than three years after the first bone was found at the mass gravesite, Angelica and other family members of the murdered women forward to honor them and send a message.

“I found out my mom died because of drugs, I just felt like I just don’t want to do drugs at all,” Dominic Griego said.

The 12-year-old's mom is Julie Nieto; she was also murdered and buried on the West Mesa.

Albuquerque Police said all 11 women had ties to drugs and prostitution before their deaths and were likely victims of their lifestyles.

Griego’s aunt also got wrapped up in drugs she died from a heroin overdose.

He and his cousins have taken their pain from losing their moms and turned it into something positive.

Griego’s cousin Giovanni rapped about the dangers of drugs in a public service announcement called “Chasing Nowhere, A Heroin Hip Hopera” for a center that helps troubled teens.

“I think the youth listens to the youth more than they do an adult,” Giovanni said.

Their grandmother, who is raising them, says she is proud of the boys for honoring their moms.

“It’s still hard on us a lot,” Eleanor Griego said adding, “Dominic I know misses his mom.”

Even though the boys were pretty young when their mothers died they have fond memories of them saying when they were around they were great moms.

The boys say they do not have any plans for another PSA but they continue to talk to their friends and classmates about the dangers of drugs.