Three men charged in triple ‘bloody truck’ killings
Victims’ bodies found in late May
Sandoval County deputies have filed murder charges against three men accused of killing a woman and two men whose bodies were found buried in shallow graves in a rural area of the county in late May.
Alberto Rodriquez, Samuel Jimenez-Perez and Omar Flores-Castillo have each been charged with three counts of murder, three counts of kidnapping, tampering with evidence, receiving or transferring stolen vehicles and extreme cruelty to animals, along with other charges.
But the details of what the three men are accused of remain unknown because other documents in the case have been sealed by court order. Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Keith Elder on Tuesday said that’s because, if details in the complaint are made public, they will put the victims’ families in jeopardy and could harm the investigation.
Sheriff’s deputies previously said three men were in custody on other charges in unrelated cases. Elder said he did not know what jail the suspects were being held in and he did not release their exact ages or mugshots.
In late February, deputies were called to what they say was “a suspicious vehicle” left near the Diamond Tail Ranch six miles east of the San Felipe Casino. They found a stolen truck riddled with bullet holes, and covered in blood and brain matter, and determined that at least one person had been killed inside it.
On May 31, deputies found John Santistevan, 32, Geraldine Sena, 48, and a man who they believe is Samuel Sena, 25, but haven’t yet confirmed, buried in shallow graves in a rural area of Sandoval County.
Geraldine Sena and Santistevan were dating, and Samuel Sena is Geraldine Sena’s son, according to family members. Family members say Geraldine Sena and Santistevan were always looking out for their friends, and had recently been looking for work.
Elder said the suspects were involved in a stolen car ring, in which they drove stolen cars to Mexico. He said the suspects were also involved in drug trafficking and mail theft.