New Mexico
KCBD Investigates: FBI report details new information in New Mexico murder, kidnapping case
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The KCBD Investigates Team has obtained court documents that provide additional details about the murder and kidnapping case in Clovis, New Mexico.
At about 4:25 p.m. on May 4, law enforcement received a call about bodies found at the Ned Houk Memorial Park in Clovis.
Law enforcement identified the women as 23-year-old Taryn Allen and 23-year-old Samantha Harley Cisneros.
Law enforcement also found Cisneros’ five-year-old daughter in critical condition with a gunshot wound to her head.
The KCBD Investigates Team confirmed she remains in critical condition at a Lubbock hospital, but we’re told she is stable.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: KCBD Investigates: Arrest warrant details suspect’s motive in Clovis kidnapping, double homicide
According to FBI Special Agent Matthew Frye’s affidavit, Allen and Cisneros were found with multiple gunshot wounds. He stated Cisneros had additional injuries to her legs and back that looked like she had been hit and dragged by a vehicle.
While at the scene, law enforcement found a baby bottle and a stroller at the park, but they could not find a baby.
Law enforcement searched Cisneros’ vehicle and found a receipt to a nearby dollar store from earlier in the day.
Officers reviewed the dollar store’s surveillance video and confirmed Cisneros’ 10-month-old daughter, Eleia Maria Torres, was with her mother and big sister that day.
Law enforcement issued an Amber Alert for Torres.
At the scene, officers reported they found 9 mm handgun casings and a sideview mirror from the driver’s side of a maroon colored Honda.
Witnesses told law enforcement they drove by Ned Houk Memorial Park between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. and said they saw a maroon car at the park and it looked like the driver was talking with the women.
Officers collected video surveillance from a McDonald’s near the park which showed a maroon Honda with a Texas license plate in the drive-thru lane around 2:40 p.m.
Officers contacted the owner of the vehicle who said he had rented the car to 26-year-old Alik Isaiah Collins through a car rental website.
The owner of the vehicle worked with law enforcement to use the car’s GPS monitoring system to track Collins.
Prior to the shooting, GPS showed the vehicle had traveled from Houston, where Collins lives, to Clovis, New Mexico.
The data also showed the vehicle at the park entrance at about 3:29 p.m.
Then, at 3:38 p.m., the vehicle left at speeds of up to 96 miles per hour, avoiding major highways as it headed east.
At 10:52 p.m., the vehicle arrived at a home in Abilene, Texas, that is about 270 miles from Clovis.
The vehicle continued to ping at that home through May 5 at 7:43 p.m.
At that point, the owner of the vehicle reported the car as stolen and remotely disabled it while it was still at the Abilene home.
The vehicle’s owner also gave law enforcement Collins’ cell phone number, which they say showed Collins to have been at the park on the day and time of the murders.
On May 5, 2024, and into May 6, 2024, law enforcement officers with the FBI and the Abilene Texas Police Department Narcotics Unit began conducting ground surveillance at the home.
At approximately 1:15 a.m. on May 6, law enforcement observed a black male pushing the maroon Honda out of the garage and into the street.
During the early morning hours of May 6, 2024, while law enforcement was preparing to execute a search warrant at the residence, they observed an Uber driver operating a Cadillac SUV arrive on the street in front of the home.
A black male, later determined to be Collins, exited the residence carrying a baby.
According to the undercover officers, Collins placed the baby on the rear passenger seat of the SUV and got into the front passenger seat.
That is when officers said Collins carjacked the Uber driver at gunpoint, and forced him out of the vehicle.
Then, officers said Collins drove away with the baby still in the car.
The Abilene Police Department reported Collins intentionally rammed into a police vehicle as they attempted to stop him.
Officers pinned the vehicle, forcing it to stop.
They took Collins into custody and recovered baby Torres who was uninjured.
Law enforcement reported finding a Glock handgun loaded with 9 mm ammunition on the floorboard of the vehicle.
The FBI confirmed Collins is not the parent, grandparent, brother, or uncle of this child, and does not have legal custody of the baby.
During this investigation, the FBI reported they had communicated with Collins last year.
The FBI reported Collins had called in September 2023 and said he wanted help finding his daughter.
During this phone call, the FBI reported he made threatening statements so they called in local law enforcement.
The FBI stayed on the phone with Collins until the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office arrived and took Collins in for a mental health evaluation.
The following month, on October 10, 2023, Collins called the FBI again and reported if law enforcement did not assist him with locating his missing five-year-old daughter, he would “start killing people and children.”
Collins stated that at one point he had kidnapped a woman and her son and then sent a picture of the kidnapped individuals to the FBI to pressure law enforcement to assist with locating his daughter.
The FBI reported Collins was intoxicated and could not provide his child’s true name but referred to her as “Rebecca.” He could not provide the child’s mother’s name either.
During these conversations, Collins said he did not have a weapon and did not intend to hurt anyone, but he made the threats to draw attention so law enforcement could help him find his daughter.
A second referral was made to local law enforcement who attempted contact with Collins but was unsuccessful.
A National Instant Criminal Background System alert was put in place to notify law enforcement if Collins attempted to purchase a firearm.
Additionally, Collins was prohibited from purchasing firearms in Texas as a result of his mental health evaluation.
At this time, the KCBD Investigates Team is working to learn how Collins got a gun.
We are also working to learn if there is any connection to Collins and the victims.
A public defender has been assigned to this case.
Loved ones of Allen and Cisneros have set up GoFundMe accounts to help pay for their funeral expenses.
According to Muffley Funeral Home’s website, Cisneros’ family is gathering at The Chapel Thursday, May 16 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Services will take place Friday, May 17 at noon with a burial following at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens in Clovis.
The website states a visitation for Allen will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Chapel located at 1500 Thornton Street in Clovis, New Mexico.
A celebration of life will follow at 6 p.m. at Hillcrest Park located at 1001 Sycamore Street.
Copyright 2024 KCBD. All rights reserved.
New Mexico
Fourth Republican candidate announces bid for New Mexico governor
SANTA FE, N.M. — Former New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison is running for governor as a Republican, he announced on social media Tuesday.
Ellison is running on affordability, opportunity and trust in government as the key points of his campaign. His experience includes serving on the NMPRC in 2023 and 2024.
“New Mexico deserves leadership that listens, acts, and delivers results. Our state has enormous potential, but too often that potential is held back by policies that don’t serve everyday New Mexicans,” he said on his website. “I’m running to bring practical solutions, honest accountability, and a renewed focus on the public interest.”
A Georgia native, Ellison has lived in New Mexico for 20 years and currently lives in the Albuquerque area with his wife and two children.
Ellison is aiming to get 5,000 signatures by Feb. 2, to appear on the primary ballot with at least three other Republicans who have announced their candidacy.
Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez announced his campaign in December and recently confirmed to KOB 4 that he received enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and New Mexico State Sen. Steve Lanier are also running.
Three Democrats are running – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
New Mexico
Independent governor’s race hopeful sues over New Mexico’s ballot process
New Mexico
New Mexico Lobo players and coaches make moves after successful season, AD departure
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.
The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.
Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.
Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.
Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.
Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.
Others set to leave include:
- Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
- Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
- Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver
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