Month: July 2014

The lone survivor of a quadruple murder in Las Cruces is breathing a sigh of relief. The New Mexico Adult Parole Board denied parole to the murderer, Clifton Skidgel. For more than three decades, Jackie Nicole Nasiatka dreaded ever seeing her stepfather, the man who killed her family. Last week, Nasiatka heard his voice for

Officials with the 49th Wing have announced the F-22 raptor flying schedule for Monday, Nov 4, through Sunday, Nov. 10. This was sent in an effort to prepare residents and business professionals around Holloman who might be affected by sonic booms that may be created during the flights of the F-22 Raptor. Monday, Nov. 4:

How popular is the adoption of a black cat on halloween? Some say the animal is at risk more so on this day because of storied reports that the animal is used in ritualistic killings. According to a Las Cruces animal shelter director, it is a myth that the animal is endangered on Halloween. The

New Mexico State University student Kyle Uckert is working on the development of instrumentation to help identify signs of life on bodies of the solar system. He has been selected as one of 65 graduate students in the 2013 class of NASA Space Technology Research Fellows and will receive funding for his work for three

A Las Cruces district judge dismissed charges Monday against a former Sunland Park interim police chief. Luis Monarez was charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery — both fourth degree felonies. In April 2012, Monarez was accused of accepting the position of interim police chief in exchange for getting his sister to not run

A Las Cruces man has been charged with child abuse after he led police on a high-speed pursuit Thursday evening, and was found to be driving on a suspended license and with three children along for the ride, according to Las Cruces Police. Johnny L. Etie, 55, of the 1200 block of Espanola Street, is

New Mexico’s highest court is set to consider a potentially precedent-setting case that could resolve whether gay marriage is legal in the state. The state Supreme Court is to hear from lawyers next Wednesday, and it’s possible the justices could issue an immediate ruling. At issue is whether a state district judge in Albuquerque was

Court documents obtained by ABC-7 reveal the events that led up to a weekend rape in Las Cruces. Las Cruces police arrested three men accused of raping an extremely drunken 22-year-old woman. The woman told police she went to the men’s apartment in the Grove Apartment Complex to have some alcoholic drinks. According to the

Dozens of people were hospitalized late Wednesday night after emergency crews say habanero chili powder wound up in the air from a nearby chili processing plant. Hazmat calls started coming in at around 8 p.m. from several buildings near the Santa Teresa airport. New Mexico State Police tell ABC-7 that when they arrived, they found

Could Las Cruces and Doa Ana County get a new feral cat program? That was the big debate at a work session on Tuesday. It’s no secret that feral cats are a big problem in the county. The Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley euthanizes thousands each year. Some say that needs to change.

Las Cruces Police have arrested a man they allege sexually penetrated an 11-year-old girl. Rodrigo L. Escarsega, 38, is charged with 10 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child under the age of 13. The charges are all first-degree felony counts. According to police, on Oct. 12, the girl’s mother became suspicious of Escarsega

Student loan defaults are up at most of New Mexico’s state universities. The default rate at New Mexico State University rose to 18. 5 percent for students who enrolled in the 2010 fiscal year, up from 15 percent for students who enrolled one year earlier. Corresponding rates for the University of New Mexico are 8.6

Gov. Susana Martinez says evidence found at a New Mexico youth ranch for troubled kids corroborates allegations of abuse by current and former students. Martinez made the comments Monday in defense of the state’s handing of an investigation into the Tierra Blanca High Country Youth Program near Hillsboro ranch. An Amber Alert and state police

A Chaparral man accused of hoarding more than 50 cats accepted a plea deal on Thursday. Charles Gonnell was facing more than 100 charges after investigators found more than 50 sick cats living on his property. On Thursday, Gonnell pleaded no contest to three felony charges of animal cruelty; the rest were dismissed. In court

A 12-year veteran of law enforcement has been sentenced for extreme animal cruelty in Dona Ana County. District Judge Fernando Macias sentenced Chuck Gonnell to 4 1/2 years in prison but suspended the sentence and placing him on parole for the entire 4 1/2 years. In 2012, Gonnell was arrested and charged with 83 counts

The city of Las Cruces could lose more than $4 million. It’s all because the state said the city wrote an ordinance incorrectly. “Without any question, I think they’re technicalities,” Las Cruces City Manager Robert Garza told ABC-7. The City Council passed a gross receipts tax hike in September to offset the future loss of

It was a heated community in meeting in Hatch, N.M., on Tuesday. Residents said they’re fed up with recent decisions by village officials. People were angry. They were frustrated. They were disappointed in their village officials. More than 100 people packed the Hatch Community Center. Many criticized the board of trustees for firing Police Chief

One person was killed in a one-vehicle rollover Wednesday afternoon in Dona Ana County. Doa Ana County Sheriff’s officials say that 57-year-old Louis Gariano was driving north on County Road D-66 near Jornado Road at about 1 p.m. when he reportedly lost control of his Isuzu Trooper, causing it to leave the road. Sheriff’s officials

The world’s biggest enchilada is back, but who’s the man behind the recipe? Roberto Estrada is the mastermind of the enchilada that once ranked in the Guinness Book of World Records. Then 10-foot enchilada will be made at this year’s Whole Enchilada Fiesta which kicked off on Friday. The even is all weekend long. Estrada

Teachers in New Mexico are calling a new state-wide evaluation system unfair. Half of a teacher’s evaluation will be based on their students’ test scores. Teachers told ABC-7 test scores don’t always show how well a student is doing. They worry the system will put too much weight on test scores. “Teachers are good people.

Residents in Berino, N.M., were shocked when water flooded through the area. Heavy floods damaged parts of the town, including a cemetery. One woman stood over the grave site of her nephew. She couldn’t believe the damage. Another woman cried over the grave sites of her father and aunt; both were caved in from the

Residents of La Union and Berino are requesting additional donations to help them recover from flooding that has devastated the rural Doa Ana County communities.In addition to cleaning supplies and electric skillets, people in La Union and Berino are in need of shovels to help them relocate dirt and debris that washed onto their property.

A woman accused of embezzling more than $250,000 has been cleared. District Attorney Mark D’Antonio dismissed the case. He called it “weak.” The New Mexico State Police investigated the case. Chief Pete Kassetas told ABC-7 he finds the DA’s statements unprofessional. “My guys are good. They’re good at what they do. They know how to

A 25-year-old Las Cruces mother has been arrested after she allegedly left her 1-and 3-year-old children home alone on Wednesday evening while she went out drinking. Kandy Marmolejo, of the 2200 block of Sambrano, has been charged with two counts of negligent child abuse. Shortly before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday Las Cruces Police were called after

A New Mexico State University student claims he was arrested for protesting quietly on campus. The student said it’s a violation of his right to free speech. Alan Dicker, a member of a group he describes as a radical left political group, said he went to the college’s job fair to protest the presence of

Residents in La Union, N.M., are recovering from heavy storms last week. The evidence of the heavy downpour can be seen throughout the area. Roads are washed out. Homes are damaged. The concrete sidewalk around one home was chipped away by the water. Many residents are hoping the rain will keep its distance so they

The Dona Ana County Commission declared a state of disaster on Monday for areas damaged by last week’s storms. The board met in an emergency session to discuss the damaged areas. Commissioners voted unanimously to declare the state of disaster. This opens up access to state emergency funding. Gov. Susana Martinez also declared a state

Enrollment dropped by 5.1 percent at New Mexico State University for Fall 2013. It is the third year in a row it has dropped. New Mexico State University – which includes the main Las Cruces campus and satellite campuses in Southern New Mexico – had a total of 28,262 students across all campuses Sept. 6,

Jayann Sepich and Governor Susana Martinez on Tuesday announced that Katie’s law has led to the 500th match of DNA data to a criminal case in New Mexico. The match came as the DNA Administrative Center, located in Albuquerque, compiled their final statistics for the month of August. The Administrative Center notified Jayann Sepich of

More than a week ago, a driver in Dona Ana crashed into an electrical pole near Dona Ana Road and Loomis Drive. The pole nearly snapped in half. The damaged pole is still standing today. Residents in the area are wondering why it hasn’t been removed. “It doesn’t even look like they fixed anything on