POJOAQUE PUEBLO, N.M. (KRQE) – The stepfather of 5-year-old Renezmae Calzada appeared in federal court on Monday on second-degree murder charges. On Sunday, the FBI arrested Malcolm Torres in Pojoaque, just hours after he was released from jail for another case.
Renezmae’s body was found in the Rio Grande last month just south of Española.
Rio Arriba deputies say Torres was the last person to see the 5-year-old in his front yard before she disappeared on Sep. 8. Torres was the boyfriend of the girl’s mother, Victoria Maestas.
On the same night that she was reported missing, Torres was arrested in a separate case for violating conditions for two DWI charges. He was also questioned about the girl’s whereabouts.
It’s taken the FBI more than a month to charge someone in her death. Last month, Special Agent James Langenberg described the search for the suspect. “We will not stop until we can identify the responsible party for Renezmae,” said Agent Langenberg.
Torres was just released from MDC earlier Sunday in his other cases. The jail said he was let out early because the court awarded him good time served.
Torres appeared in Federal Court on Monday on second-degree murder charges. The case is being heard in federal court as investigators say Renezmae was killed on Pueblo land just outside of Española.
Monday in court, federal prosecutors didn’t share anything new about the case. He was simply advised of his rights and the charges he faces.
Some of Torres’ family members were also in court but declined to speak with KRQE News 13. Torres was expected back in federal court on Tuesday for a detention hearing but he waived his right to one.
He will now automatically be held until trial.
Tag: Renezmae Calzada
