4 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In New Mexico That Will Leave You Baffled
Juliet White
Author
There are many proverbs along the lines of “you reap what you sow.” As a society, we believe in the idea of seeking justice. However, when a horrific crime remains unsolved, it compounds the pain for the victims’ families and leaves us with lots of questions. Here are four unsolved mysteries in New Mexico, one historical, and three more recent. Everything from mysterious disappearances in New Mexico to murders and ghosts – the Land of Enchantment has it all!
Two armed men were waiting for them. They ordered the three, along with Ida Holguin (the cook) into a back room. Employee Steven Teran (aged 26) and his two young daughters, Paula and Valerie, were forced into the room a short time later.
The criminals opened the safe and stole $5000. Then they shot all seven victims, lit the office on fire, and left. Despite her injuries, Repass successfully called 911 and gave a description of the perpetrators.
Only Repass, Senac and Ida Holguin survived the traumatic shooting.
The case remains open and unsolved.
On July 3rd, 1929, a headless body was found inside Manby’s home. That’s about the only part of the story that sources agree upon. Some believe Manby staged the scene, leaving a dead (or murdered?) homeless person in his place. He was allegedly sighted in Europe after his "death." Others think that Manby was murdered. The suspect list was lengthy and, at the time, no one was motivated to solve the case.
The building next to Manby’s home became the Doc Martin Restaurant, inside the Taos Inn. Paranormal activity has been reported in the restaurant, including the apparition of a man said to look a lot like Manby…
The mystery remains: was the body Manby’s and, if so, who killed him?
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Her mother reported her missing when she failed to come home.
Calico’s cassette tape was found by the side of the road and part of her Walkman was located near the John F. Kennedy campground.
In June of 1989, a photo was discovered in a convenience store parking lot in St. Joe, Florida. It depicted a young woman and a boy, both with duct tape over their mouths. Authorities remain undecided about whether the woman in the picture was Calico.
The case has been featured on shows like "America’s Most Wanted" and "Oprah." It’s also been the subject of a documentary called "Vanished: The Tara Calico Story," but she has never been found.
The victims’ bones were uncovered during a construction project. A woman who was walking her dog spotted what appeared to be a human femur on the construction site. She alerted authorities.
It took almost a year to identify all the bodies.
Here are the names of the victims: Jamie Barela, Monica Candelaria, Victoria Chavez, Virginia Cloven, Syllania Edwards, Cinnamon Elks, Doreen Marquez, Julie Nieto, Veronica Romero, Evelyn Salazar, and Michelle Valdez (who was pregnant).
It’s unclear how the women died.
The perpetrator has been dubbed the "118th street serial killer", because the bodies were buried adjacent to 118th Street SW, in Albuquerque.
What do you think about these mysteries? Will they ever be solved? Is there a New Mexico mystery that continues to haunt you?
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Mysterious Disappearances in New Mexico
What are some fascinating unsolved mysteries in New Mexico?
New Mexico is one of those states that just kind of seems steeped in mystery. It’s relatively unpopulated, and it’s home to all kinds of ultra-weird, ultra-interesting, or otherwise interesting-in-some-way mysteries. For example, the infamous Roswell crash occurred in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. It’s the single most famous UFO-related incident in United States history, and to this day, the town embraces its eerie claim to fame – that an unidentified craft crashed just outside of town, and it was of extraterrestrial origins – with open arms. It is, by far, New Mexico’s most famous mystery. Speaking of UFOs, another infamous unsolved mystery in New Mexico is the Lonnie Zamora UFO sighting in 1964, in which a trustworthy policeman sighted a craft with beings in it that left signs of its presence in the form of indentations on the ground, and more. To say there are plenty of mysteries in New Mexico is an understatement!
What are the most notorious unsolved murders in New Mexico?
Some of the unsolved mysteries in New Mexico are, unfortunately, all too earthly and human. There is a multitude of unsolved murders in the state, many of which are quite notorious. In 2009, a woman walking her dog found a human bone, and many more were found in the vicinity, which led to the discovery of a mass grave in which 11 women were unceremoniously discarded. It is unknown to this day who the killer of these women is (or was), and it remains one of the most frightening unsolved homicides in New Mexico to this day. Another notorious unsolved murder mystery in New Mexico is that of Joey Moreno, who was found shot three times, execution-style, in the head, and was found beside his car, which was still running, music on and everything. He was found at milepost three on Highway 78, nearby the Arizona border. It is not known what happened, who killed him, or why.
What are some of the most baffling New Mexico mysteries?
Other mysteries of New Mexico include disappearances, like the disappearance of Tara Calico on September 20, 1988, when she went on a bike ride in her neighborhood. Less than one year later, on June 15, 1989, a woman found a photograph in a grocery store parking lot depicting a young woman and a young boy, both of whom were bound with duct tape and appeared to be Tara and another missing child. Despite the discovery of this photograph, it is not known what happened to Tara, or why. It is not known if she is still alive, or where she may be. Then, there was the disappearance of Anthonette Cayedito, on April 6, 1986, from her bedroom in the middle of the night. She was sighted many times over the years, but she is thought to be likely deceased.