Update: 3 People Murdered In Home Near Mesilla, NM Identified

Update: By Marissa Monroy – Family members told ABC-7 Friday afternoon that they have been notified by authorities that Gilles and Helga Delisle were found dead in their home Thursday morning. The Delisles were two of the three people who were murdered in the Delisle home. Authorities have not confirmed it was the Delisles that were killed.

At an afternoon news conference, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office said the third person killed was Peter Weith. Sheriff’s officials say the three were shot to death and there was no sign of forced entry into the Delisle home.

The three were supposed to show up at a civil case dispute Thursday – a dispute investigators told ABC-7 involved hundreds of thousands of dollars. The litigation revolved around three Las Cruces homes.

Today, ABC-7 learned that the defendant in that case is a man by the name of Eugene “Gino” Ferri. He is not considered a suspect at this time but he did provide authorities with a voluntary statement, according to sheriff’s officials.

Investigators did not go into detail about the case except to say that Ferri owed the Delisles a large amount of money.

Sheriff’s officials say they are on the lookout for a white 2007 Pathfinder that was registered to Gilles Delisle.

Thursday, April 15, 2010 Story

The investigation continues into the murder of three people in a home near Mesilla, New Mexico. The Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office tells us all three victims were elderly, but have not released the victims names.

Deputies discovered the bodies of two men and a woman Thursday morning just after 10 o’clock on the 2600 block of Mesilla Hills, that’s just south of Las Cruces.

Dona Ana County Sheriff’s investigators spent more than 12 hours collecting evidence at the home where the bodies where found.

“When I looked out my window this morning and I saw Sheriff’s cars going down the road and unmarked detective vehicles and looked out the window and thought, ‘Wow’ something’s happening in our little quiet area out here” explains Steve Henderson who lives next door.

It’s a multi agency investigation including the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police.

Sheriff’s officials tell us Thursday morning the victims were supposed to appear in court for a civil dispute involving hundreds of thousands of dollars. When they didn’t show, deputies were sent out to the home to find out where the victims were, that’s when they found the bodies.

Bo Nevarez with the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office says, “Each one was targeted by a specific person or persons and I don’t like to use the word homicide this early in the investigation but that’s what we’re looking at.”

According to the Dona Ana County Tax Assessor’s Office, the owners of the home are Gilles and Helga Delisle. Again, authorities have not confirmed they are the victims.

No arrests have been made. Authorities say they are zeroing in on the suspect or suspects.

Investigators tell ABC-7 they haven’t seen a crime scene this big since the Las Cruces Bowling Alley massacre.