Las Cruces murder suspect had alleged criminal past, including child abuse allegations

A Las Cruces man accused of murder had his first appearance in court Tuesday.

24-year-old Adrian Banda is facing multiple felony charges after state police said a man was found dead in the trunk of a burning car last Thursday.

State police said officers first responded to a call of a reported aggravated battery and vehicle fire in Doña Ana County.

Investigators learned a woman escape from the burning car with a stab wound to the neck. She was airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso.

Witnesses recalled seeing plumes of smoke on Bureau of Land Management property, near Eclipse Road, just southwest of the Doña Ana Mountains.

Banda faces first degree murder, kidnapping, tampering with evidence, conspiracy to commit murder and battery.

19-year-old Damika Childs is also tied to the incident, according to New Mexico State Police. She also faces a first degree murder charge.

Cameras weren’t allowed inside the courtroom Tuesday, but ABC-7 was there as Banda, wearing an orange jumpsuit, his wrists and ankles shackled, entered.

The prosecution asked Judge Conrad Perea to change Banda’s bond from a $1 million cash bond to no bond.

Judge Perea granted that request.

During the hearing, when asked if Banda had any questions, he replied “I don’t know how all that evidence points to me, but I can’t afford the million dollar bond anyway.”

“He set the bond for no bond based upon the provisions of the New Mexico Constitution and also that the defendant has four pending cases. He felt the defendant was a flight risk and a danger to the community,” Deputy District Attorney Gerald Byers told ABC-7 after the hearing.

This wasn’t the first time Banda faced criminal charges.

Court records show Banda was accused of child abuse against his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter in 2011.

Police said the allegations came forward after the toddler had several bruises and what appeared to be a neck injury.

Court records show those charges were dismissed. The Dona Ana District Attorney’s Office said it was due to insufficient evidence.

In 2015, Banda was accused of shooting at a moving car, allegedly wounding two teenagers.

The DA’s office said those charges were also dismissed after “the essential witness, Antoinette Harwood, died in a car accident” a year later.

Harwood was Banda’s girlfriend.

In April 2016, Banda was allegedly arguing with her over the phone, while driving in a separate car in front of her.

Harwood allegedly stopped her car on the highway when she was struck, causing the car’s fuel tank to rupture and catch fire, killing all four people inside

The 28-year-old and Banda’s 19-year-old sister, Corine Banda, were pronounced dead on scene.

Harwood and Banda’s two children, 2-year-old Adrian Banda and 1-month-old Layahna Banda, were taken to local hospitals where both were pronounced dead.

If convicted in last Thursday’s murder, Banda faces life behind bars.asn’t the first time Banda faced criminal charges.

Banda remains in custody at the Dona Ana County Detention Center. A preliminary hearing will be set in the next 10 days.