New Mexico man kills mother, dismembers body, lives with remains for weeks

New Mexico man kills mother, dismembers body, lives with remains for weeks

Albuquerque, NM

A man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his mother and storing her dismembered remains in a freezer. Leroy Felix Vallejos, 49, faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence after the body of 69-year-old Ernestina Lucero was discovered at their home.

Family members reported Lucero missing on Tuesday after Vallejos requested payment from her home health care company despite not having seen her in over a week. Officers conducted a welfare check and found suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

During the search of the home, police discovered suspected human remains inside a freezer. Vallejos allegedly admitted to killing his mother by choking her to death approximately three weeks prior.

Cops also found blood stains and learned he withdrew money from her bank account and sold her car before she was declared missing. Vallejos was taken into custody on Wednesday and is currently held without bond at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center.