Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Body found at Water Canyon

Clara Garcia Valencia County News Bulletin

Special to El Defensor Chieftain

The body of a Corrales woman who was last seen in Los Lunas in early April was discovered late Saturday night in a wooded area of Socorro County.

Sandra Sanchez, 43, had been missing since April 3. She was last seen that night in Los Lunas at a Walgreens. But on Saturday night, when her body was discovered, the long search was over.

Los Lunas Police Chief Roy Melnick said Sanchez's body was discovered in Water Canyon, a mountain campground about 20 miles west of Socorro. Melnick wouldn't comment on the details of the discovery of Sanchez's body, or who found her, but he did say that it is a "clear case of homicide."

Melnick said, along with his investigators, State Police Crime Scene Investigators worked throughout the night on Saturday processing the crime scene and searching the area for evidence. The chief said that he believes Sanchez was killed on the day that she went missing.

"We're still looking at the same person of interest, and we're gathering evidence on a daily basis," Melnick said. "We have an active ongoing criminal investigation, but there are details that we want to keep confidential. We know that this is a homicide — there is no doubt in my mind. I know how she was killed, but I'm not releasing that information yet."

Melnick said that he met with Sanchez' brothers and sister the morning after she was discovered and told them the news. He said that while the family was devastated about the news that Sanchez was dead, they were in some ways relieved to finally know what happened to her.

"From the minute we got involved, we've been working pretty closely with the family," Melnick said.

Sanchez's family reported her missing in April after she never showed up to Easter dinner or her granddaughter's birthday party, which was very unlike her.

Since Sanchez's disappearance in April, her family and law enforcement have been searching for her throughout Valencia County. On June 2, Los Lunas police located Sanchez's 1995 dark green Chevy Lumina parked at the Elegante Hotel on the 2000 block of Menaul Boulevard, N.E., just off Interstate 25 in Albuquerque.

The day before, officers, armed with a search warrant, seized a vehicle belonging to a Sanchez's ex-boyfriend, who police are calling a person of interest in the investigation. Police and Sanchez's family believe he was the last person to see Sandra alive.

Officers also searched the man's home in Los Lunas a few weeks ago, but the chief wouldn't disclose what, if any, evidence was found. The ex-boyfriend has not been charged with any crimes.

Since Sanchez was reported missing, Melnick said he and the department have made this case a priority. He said, along with four detectives, he pulled two community police officers and two traffic officers off patrol to work this case.

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