Hatch murder suspects will remain in prison as they await trial

More than two weeks after a double murder near Hatch, a judge ruled suspect Cristal Cardenas, who police say killed her ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend, will remain in pre-trial custody.

The judge said it would not be safe to release her into the public.

Cardenas is accused , along with her boyfriend Luis Flores, of killing her own ex-boyfriend Mario Cabral and Cabral’s current girlfriend, Vanessa Rodriguez Mora.

Cardenas walked into the crowded courtroom Friday afternoon, where more than a dozen people came out to the hearing to learn if Cardenas would be released.

With attorneys and the court relying on sealed documents for the ruling, counselors spoke at the bench.

The judge then explained he considered sealed documents, as well as public safety, and said he did not see a safe way for Cardenas to be released into the community as she waits for her day in court.

“Looking at the nature of the underlying charges and the nature of the circumstances of these offenses the court finds that Mrs Cristal Cardenas is dangerous. Now, with that, I must make another finding. That second finding is this: are there any reasonable conditions of release that would protect the community, the safety of any person in this community, and the court finds that there are not,” said District Judge Conrad Perea.

Perea also said it would be safer for Cardenas herself if she were in custody.

The co defendant, Luis Flores, is also being held without bond. ABC-7 spoke with the district attorney’s office and learned Flores’ defense team has not requested a pre-trial detention hearing yet.