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
Missionary from Utah serving in New Mexico died unexpectedly in sleep
SALT LAKE CITY — A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Utah has passed away in his sleep unexpectedly Saturday in New Mexico, according to a news release from The Church.
Elder Caleb Gene Martin, 21, died from a medical cause that has not been determined, Church spokesman Sam Penrod said in a statement.
According to The Church, Martin had been serving in the New Mexico Farmington Mission since May 2024. He was from Salem, Utah.
Elder Caleb Gene Martin, 21, died in his sleep on Jan. 3 from a medical cause that has yet to be determined. He was serving in the New Mexico Farmington Mission. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fellow missionaries. We pray they will find comfort and strength through their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and feel the Savior’s love as they honor Elder Martin’s life and devoted missionary service,” the statement said.
According to the release, an autopsy is planned.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
New Mexico
The Roundhouse Report: Bernie Sanders praises New Mexico
New Mexico
Blizzard warnings and winter storm warnings in effect for parts of New Mexico
Southeastern New Mexico will see some snow while other places will generally see cooler, more winter-like temperatures. See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some notable cities in New Mexico could see multiple inches of snow, along with possible wind and cooler temperatures Sunday into Monday.
There is going to be snow across the southeast. A winter storm advisory is in effect all throughout areas like Ruidoso and out toward the Texas state line. A winter storm warning for Carlsbad and even a blizzard warning for the Guadalupe Mountains. These advisories and warnings indicate it’s going to continue until Monday at 6 p.m.
How much snow might there be? Ruidoso could see a few inches, along with other higher-elevation areas. Carlsbad might even see as much as two inches and Roswell has a very good chance of snow.
Wind gusts ranged from 23 mph for Hobbs and Clovis, 25 in Santa Rosa and similar readings in other places. Temperatures could hit sub-freezing temperatures in places like Ruidoso, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs. Meanwhile, Gallup and Grants could get into the single-digits. Plus, places like Albuquerque and Santa Fe will be in the 20s but the big “winner” is Alamosa, Colorado, with 2 degrees.
Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.
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