That's the above the fold headline in today's Albuquerque Journal (subscription). The bodies are quite literally stacking up in a field on Albuquerque's West Side. According to the Journal and Chief Schultz, the remains appear to have been interred from 2000 to 2005.
On Friday, the chief sought to put Albuquerque residents' minds at ease, saying detectives don't believe whoever is responsible for the deaths is still killing. He said the "best investigative team in New Mexico history" is looking into numerous leads.Sorry Chief... the fact that the remains appear to be from the 2000 to 2005 time period does not indicate that whoever was responsible isn't still killing. It only indicates that the person or persons responsible haven't been dumping bodies in a field at 118th and Dennis Chavez SW since around 2005.
"The remains are all old; they've been there a number of years," he said. "Had we been finding fresh bodies, I'd be much more concerned. Everybody can be reassured that there's not an active serial killer in Albuquerque actively killing and preying on people."
We're not trying to alarm anyone but we're getting tired of the Chief of Police spinning everything from crime stats to scam-era stats to serial killers. There is no evidence - none - that there's not an active serial killer operating in Albuquerque. If there was, the Chief would and should indicate that such evidence exists.
As it stands we do know is that there was a serial killer on the loose between 2000 and 2005. We do know that they dumped at least 13 of their victims in a field at 118th and Dennis Chavez SW. What we do not know is why or if they stopped and we do not know for sure that there aren't more recent victims that either haven't been found or who ended up under a house or road somewhere in the nearby developments.
In fact, our Eyes tell us that there are indications that there may be as many as 12 bodies that have yet to be found bringing the body count to as high as 25. The facts are they don't know who killed these people, as yet they don't know who many of them are, and they don't know whether or not the killer or killers are still out there plying their sick trade.
Police have not identified any suspects in the deaths but have said they are looking into two cases in particular: one involving a prostitute who was slain in late 2006 in a southwest Albuquerque trailer a few miles from where the remains have been found. The suspected killer was fatally shot as he was moving the woman's body. They are also looking into the case of a well-known pimp who died of natural causes in January and who had pictures of missing prostitutes in his home.The Almighty Alcalde and Chief Schultz would like you to believe that the danger has passed. Throwing out the names of two non-suspects who pose no threat to the community due to their previous demise is simply meant to reassure the public. Unfortunately, there's no foundation for reassurance and plenty of reasons - 13 and counting - to be concerned.