Couple arrested in Las Cruces hit & run that killed man and critically injured another

UPDATE #2: Heather Mariah Grace Funk and Earnest Thomas Fudge were located and arrested on Thursday, according to Dona Ana County jail booking records.

Funk is charged with two counts of failure to stop and render aid and two counts of leaving the scene, while Fudge is charged with one count of harboring or aiding a felon.

UPDATE: Arrest warrants have now been issued for a man and woman believed to have been inside a car that struck two men, one fatally, in a hit and run earlier this week, Las Cruces police said Wednesday evening.

Authorities asked for the public's help in locating Heather Mariah Grace Funk, 40, and Earnest Thomas Fudge, 40. Police say they were believed to be in the 2010 Volkswagen Passat used in the hit-and-run; detectives located and searched the car and found documents linking it to the couple.

"Funk and Fudge are believed to be traveling together and may be staying in a Las Cruces area hotel or motel," a police spokesman said, urging anyone who sees them to call 911 immediately.

ORIGINAL REPORT: LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- A car struck two men along a busy Las Cruces Street Monday night, leaving one dead and the other critically injured, before fleeing the scene.

It happened about 8 p.m. near the intersection of Espina Street and Arizona Avenue.

Police on Tuesday identified the victim who died as 43-year-old Jaime Valenciano. A 60-year-old man, whose name wasn't released, remained hospitalized Tuesday in critical condition.

Investigators said they believe the two men were walking together and crossing Espina Street when they were struck by a vehicle headed south on Espina; it continued toward University Avenue after striking the pedestrians.

Witnesses told police the car was a gray or silver sedan.

Authorities on Tuesday asked that any additional witnesses to the hit-and-run contact police at (575) 526-0795.