Known as: West Mesa Killer · Albuquerque Bone Collector
On February 2, 2009, a woman walking her dog on a remote patch of desert in the West Mesa section of Albuquerque, New Mexico, stumbled upon a human bone jutting out of the dirt. What followed was one of the largest crime scene excavations in New Mexico history — and one of the most disturbing unsolved cases in the country.
Over the course of weeks, investigators from the Albuquerque Police Department and FBI excavated a roughly two-acre area and uncovered the skeletal remains of 11 women and one unborn baby. Most victims were identified as sex workers or women with substance abuse histories who had disappeared from Albuquerque's Central Avenue corridor between 2001 and 2005. Their families had reported them missing years earlier, only to have those reports go largely uninvestigated by a police department that critics say prioritized the cases of white, middle-class victims.
Investigators believe the killer had intimate knowledge of the desert terrain and may have had a pickup truck or larger vehicle to transport bodies. The burial site showed methodical placement — bodies were not dumped randomly but buried with apparent deliberateness. DNA evidence has been collected, but no match has ever been identified in national databases.
The case was marred by controversy over Albuquerque PD's handling of the missing persons reports and the investigation. Several suspects were investigated over the years, but none charged. A $100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest.
As of 2025, the case remains officially open. Improvements in forensic genealogy offer hope for a future breakthrough.