Police Arrest Suspect, 19, in N.M. Teen Deaths
A man was arrested early Sunday and charged with murder in the deaths of two teenagers killed during a Good Friday pilgrimage to a church where thousands of people hope for miracles.
Carlos Herrera, 19, of Espanola, was arrested at a friend’s home in Alcalde about 2:40 a.m., said state police Sgt. Royleen Ross-Weaver.
She said Herrera was an acquaintance of the 17-year-old shooting victims, Richard Martinez and Karen Castanon, but did not elaborate.
Martinez was found lying on a highway before daybreak Friday about 30 miles north of Santa Fe. Castanon, his girlfriend, was found several miles away.
The teenagers were among thousands of pilgrims making the annual spiritual trek to the Santuario de Chimayo, a small Roman Catholic church in the village of Chimayo that is said to contain healing dirt.
Ross-Weaver said the arrest was made after police made a public appeal for help and received a phone tip.
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