Trial in deadly baseball-bat beating continues in Las Cruces

The trial for a Las Cruces man accused of beating to death with a baseball bat continued Wednesday.

Leonard Telles is charged with first degree murder first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Jerome Saiz.

In late November of 2013, Saiz was found rolled up in a carpet clinging to life at his home in the 200 block of Princess Jeanne Drive, police said. He later died at the hospital.

Police say Rebecca Gmez, Saiz’s girlfriend at the time, was in the home when Saiz was beaten. When police arrived, Telles allegedly admitted he beat Saiz with a baseball bat.

Officers who were on the scene testified Wednesday and gave accounts of what they saw that night. Several pictures were shown, including one of an empty SUV found running outside the home and emergency crews trying to save Saiz’s life.

A tape was played during Wednesday’s hearing. In it, the the officer asks Telles, “Where is he at?” Telles says, ‘He is in the back room. Put him a blanket.” The officer then asks if Telles is bleeding and Telles says “yes.”

Officer Mike Leftault also took the stand on Wednesday. He described what Telles said when officers arrived.

“(Telles) was very hysterical and he began making statements that he did not mean to do it but he had to do it,” Leftault said.

Investigators said people who knew Saiz well told them his personality changed when he started dating Gomez and that the couple was always fighting.

Court documents state Saiz’s friend told police Gomez was constantly accusing Saiz of cheating on her. That friend said Saiz called her just before he was killed at this home. She told detectives she could hear Gomez yelling, “Kill him, babe! Kill him!”

Gomez’s daughters — ages 6 and 7 — were inside the home at the time of the alleged murder. Police said the two girls were taken to a family member.