A chilling discovery in Albuquerque has led to the arrest of a man accused of a horrific crime against his own mother. Leroy Vallejos, 49, now sits in jail, facing charges that paint a disturbing picture of betrayal and violence.
Court documents reveal Vallejos was booked into the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center on Wednesday, charged with first-degree murder, battery, and tampering with evidence. Authorities are holding him without bail, a testament to the gravity of the accusations.
The investigation began with a welfare check prompted by a bizarre call to a healthcare company. Vallejos reportedly requested continued payment for his 69-year-old mother, Ernestina Lucero’s, care, despite claiming she had been missing for a week.
Initially, Vallejos told officers his mother had traveled to Mexico. However, inconsistencies quickly surfaced – her prescription medications remained untouched in her bedroom, raising immediate red flags.
The search took a gruesome turn when officers discovered garbage bags containing human remains inside a large freezer. The chilling contents confirmed their worst fears: they were looking at the dismembered remains of Ernestina Lucero.
A subsequent search of the home unearthed further evidence, including a saw with what appeared to be dried bloodstains hidden under a sink. The scene suggested a deliberate and calculated act of violence.
According to police reports, Vallejos confessed to choking his mother to death nearly three weeks prior. He allegedly claimed she was involved with a group he believed was conspiring against him, a group he described as “giving their lives to darkness.”
The case began unfolding earlier, with a missing person bulletin issued on October 23rd after another family member reported Lucero’s disappearance. This initial report triggered the investigation that ultimately led to the horrifying discovery.
Investigators also uncovered financial irregularities, revealing that Vallejos had allegedly withdrawn money from his mother’s account and sold her vehicle before she was even reported missing. These actions suggest a premeditated plan.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities piece together the full scope of this tragic and disturbing case, seeking to understand the motive behind such a brutal act.
