Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Memorial West Mesa topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate reads certificate remembering West Mesa victims, urges law-enforcement diligence
Summary
The New Mexico Senate read a certificate March 6 recognizing the 11 women recovered from the West Mesa mass grave and urged the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department and the FBI to pursue thorough investigations and to support survivors' families.
The New Mexico State Senate on March 6, 2025 read a certificate recognizing the 11 victims recovered at the West Mesa gravesite and urged law enforcement agencies to proceed with “due diligence” in investigations of the killings.
The certificate, read on the Senate floor, lists the identified victims — Jamie Barela, Monica Candelaria, Victoria Chavez, Virginia Clovin, Selena (Selania) Edwards, Cinnamon Elks, Doreen Marquez, Julie Nieto, Veronica Romero, Evelyn Salazar and Michelle Valdez — and recounts that the Albuquerque Police Department unearthed the remains in February 2009. The document urges the Albuquerque Police Department, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to employ available resources and to expedite efforts to resolve the murders; it also calls for media coverage to focus on the crimes rather than victims’ personal histories.
Why it matters: The West Mesa discovery and subsequent investigation remain a point of continuing concern for families and community advocates in Albuquerque. The Senate certificate reasserts state legislators’ public recognition of the victims and presses local and federal agencies to prioritize outcomes for grieving families.
The certificate recites details included in city and federal records and media reporting, including a 2016 Albuquerque Journal story cited in the text and a Federal Bureau of Investigation National Crime Information Center statistic included in the certificate. It also lists additional missing-persons cases the Albuquerque Police Department identified as possibly related.
Senator Linda M. Lopez introduced the certificate on the Senate floor and said she remembers receiving the initial phone call about the discovery: “it was a day that many of us will not forget,” she said, describing the memorial and a park the city established to honor the victims. Senator Padilla, who spoke after Lopez, credited the senator for helping secure state funds to create a permanent memorial and described the site as a place for community reflection. Senator Woods, who also spoke in support of the recognition, described the discovery as “a tragic loss” and said the treatment of the victims in media accounts was painful for families.
The certificate text calls on the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department to proceed with “due diligence” and encourages the mayor of Albuquerque and the Bernalillo County Commission to support efforts to resolve the crimes. It also urges the state to expand services for addiction treatment and rehabilitation rather than criminalizing people who need treatment.
No roll-call vote was recorded on the floor when the certificate was read; the text was submitted and read as a Senate certificate and followed by remarks from multiple senators in support.
The Senate reading is largely symbolic but signals continued legislative attention to the families and to calls from advocates for renewed investigative effort. The certificate and remarks may be used by family members and community groups when urging additional investigative resources or public outreach.
