Suspect charged in burned body case

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE) - A car fire led deputies in southeastern New Mexico to a murder victim found charred inside.

When Otero County Sheriff's deputies found a 2006 station wagon early Tuesday morning, it was fully engulfed in flames.

"The fire department put out the fire and after they put it out they located a badly burned body inside," said Otero County Undersheriff David Hunter.

Shortly after someone reported the burning car, someone else reported a person was hiding on their property. Deputies found 31-year-old Matias Loza hiding under an RV on that property and were able to link him to the burnt car.

"Him being in the immediate area, his footprints leading from the scene to where he was found, the condition he was in at the time, there was an odor of gasoline emanating from his person," said Hunter.

Loza is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence, aggravated arson and bribery. He offered one of the deputies $40,000 to allow him to escape.

The body was sent to Albuquerque for an autopsy, which detectives hope will reveal the victims identity and how he or she died. Loza isn't revealing those answers.

Investigators say Loza is from Phoenix, Arizona where he has a criminal history and has served time in jail.

"The fact that he was here with no apparent ties here leaves a lot of suspicion," said Hunter.

Deputies say they are investigating if this case is drug related, but they aren't saying what led them in that direction.