Albuquerque Man Arrested for Mother’s Murder and Dismemberment

A man from Albuquerque, New Mexico, faces serious charges after allegedly killing his mother and dismembering her remains, which he then stored in a freezer, reports suggest.

Leroy Vallejos, 49, was taken into custody at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center on Wednesday. He is currently charged with first-degree murder, assault, and tampering with evidence while being held in preventive custody.

The Albuquerque Police Department reports that Vallejos has confessed to strangling his 69-year-old mother, Ernestina Lucero, around three weeks ago. Interestingly, he alleged to the police that his mother was involved in some “group dedicated to the darkness” that was plotting against him.

Vallejos reportedly initiated a welfare check at his mother’s residence last Tuesday, claiming she had been missing for about a week. Notably, he still sought payment from a medical company for her treatment, even though he hadn’t seen her recently.

During the welfare check, Vallejos let officers inside, mentioning that his mother had traveled to Mexico. However, the officers noticed her prescription medication still in her bedroom, raising suspicions.

One officer eventually uncovered a garbage bag inside a large freezer, which was confirmed to contain a woman’s body. Further searches revealed a saw under the sink that appeared to have dried blood on it.

Prior to the welfare check, a family member had reported Lucero missing, prompting police to issue a missing persons bulletin on October 23 and launch an investigation.

Early findings suggest Vallejos may have also withdrawn money from his mother’s bank account, and her car was reportedly sold shortly before her disappearance.

The police have not provided additional comments on the ongoing investigation as it unfolds.