Suspect Indicted for Killing Family Members and Pet in New Mexico

A man has been formally charged after allegedly murdering his parents, teenage sister, and family dog, then attempting to conceal the crime. Prosecutors accuse 24-year-old Adlai Mestre of carrying out the killings inside his home near Tijeras on October 13, 2024.

When police responded to reports of gunfire, they found Mestre outside the residence with a firearm and a loaded magazine. Evidence gathered at the scene indicated a violent struggle, with authorities discovering a hammer and bloodstained meat tenderizer, along with blood trails and mop marks on the floor.

The victims—his parents, Bertha Huerta Conde, 51, and Raymundo Mestre, 46, along with his 17-year-old sister, Brielle Mestre—were later found deceased in a nearby gorge. Mestre reportedly told officers he admitted to killing his family members and planned to bury them.

According to court documents, Mestre stated he shot his father in the living room and his mother as she descended the stairs, but claimed ignorance about his sister’s whereabouts. During police interrogation, he became violent, punching a hole in the wall and briefly escaping before being re detained.

The investigation revealed Mestre’s attempts to clean up after the massacre. Authorities also charged him with evidence tampering. In April, a mental health evaluation declared him unfit to stand trial; however, this decision was overturned last month.