Inset: (Metropolitan Detention Center). Background: Police in Albuquerque, New Mexico, investigate after Vallejos allegedly killed his mother (KRQE).
A New Mexico man murdered his mother, partially dismembered her body and stuffed some of the remains in a freezer — and then went about his life inside the home for the next three weeks.
Leroy Felix Vallejos, 49, is facing murder and tampering with evidence charges in the death of his 69-year-old mother Ernestina Lucero in Albuquerque, court records say.
Another family member reported Lucero missing on Oct. 23, a criminal complaint obtained by CBS affiliate KRQE said. Vallejos allegedly called his mother's home health care company asking to be paid even though he had not seen her in over a week, according to police.
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Officers conducted a welfare check on Tuesday at Lucero's home in the 300 block of Rhode Island Street NE. Vallejos, who also lived at the home, opened the door and allowed cops to search the house. He claimed she had left on vacation for Mexico with her boyfriend but cops became suspicious when they found her medication in the bathroom.
Then, they looked inside a large freezer and found garbage bags. In those bags were suspected female human remains, cops say. A further search of the home reportedly yielded blood stains under the sink. Detectives took Vallejos into custody and in an interview he allegedly admitted to choking his mom to death some three weeks prior. He reportedly said Lucero was conspiring against him with others and she was part of a "group of people giving their lives to darkness."
Cops determined Vallejos had allegedly withdrawn cash from his mother's bank account and sold her car before she was reported missing.
Vallejos was arrested on Wednesday and is currently in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center without bond.
