Officer Paul Chavez

This did not look like a robbery. It looked like a case of anger. A lot of anger based on the brutality that occurred.

This did not look like a robbery. It looked like a case of anger. A lot of anger based on the brutality that occurred.

This did not look like a robbery. It looked like a case of anger. A lot of anger based on the brutality that occurred.

My role primarily is to process and document the crime scene and try and make sense of what occurred there.

My role primarily is to process and document the crime scene and try and make sense of what occurred there.

My role primarily is to process and document the crime scene and try and make sense of what occurred there.

You can't disturb the body much. And with the amount of bloodshed that was present, we weren't able to assess the wounds as well as we would like to have been able to.

You can't disturb the body much. And with the amount of bloodshed that was present, we weren't able to assess the wounds as well as we would like to have been able to.

You can't disturb the body much. And with the amount of bloodshed that was present, we weren't able to assess the wounds as well as we would like to have been able to.

If these were in fact not gunshot wounds, they were actually lacerations that were penetrating with a blunt object.

If these were in fact not gunshot wounds, they were actually lacerations that were penetrating with a blunt object.

If these were in fact not gunshot wounds, they were actually lacerations that were penetrating with a blunt object.

What the pickaxe did provide us was DNA from all three victims. So we unequivocally had our murder weapon. However, we were unable to forensically link a suspect to the pickaxe.

What the pickaxe did provide us was DNA from all three victims. So we unequivocally had our murder weapon. However, we were unable to forensically link a suspect to the pickaxe.

What the pickaxe did provide us was DNA from all three victims. So we unequivocally had our murder weapon. However, we were unable to forensically link a suspect to the pickaxe.

It could mean a number of things that maybe they were wearing gloves or they covered their hands in some way or shape or form. And just sometimes the lab just can't find it. It's not 100% certainty that they're going to be able to find DNA when something is touched. There's a chance that we will, but it doesn't always work out that way.

It could mean a number of things that maybe they were wearing gloves or they covered their hands in some way or shape or form. And just sometimes the lab just can't find it. It's not 100% certainty that they're going to be able to find DNA when something is touched. There's a chance that we will, but it doesn't always work out that way.

It could mean a number of things that maybe they were wearing gloves or they covered their hands in some way or shape or form. And just sometimes the lab just can't find it. It's not 100% certainty that they're going to be able to find DNA when something is touched. There's a chance that we will, but it doesn't always work out that way.

So there were a number of red flags that required us to investigate Sherry and Jesse to the fullest.

So there were a number of red flags that required us to investigate Sherry and Jesse to the fullest.

So there were a number of red flags that required us to investigate Sherry and Jesse to the fullest.

Could family gain from the death of the victim? Sure they can if there's insurance policies in place. Or is there property in place? Is there something to be gained? That's definitely something that was going to be looked at.

Could family gain from the death of the victim? Sure they can if there's insurance policies in place. Or is there property in place? Is there something to be gained? That's definitely something that was going to be looked at.

Could family gain from the death of the victim? Sure they can if there's insurance policies in place. Or is there property in place? Is there something to be gained? That's definitely something that was going to be looked at.

Jesse and Cherie's involvement couldn't be ruled out.

Jesse and Cherie's involvement couldn't be ruled out.

Jesse and Cherie's involvement couldn't be ruled out.

But there was some conflicting statements between Cherie and Jesse.

But there was some conflicting statements between Cherie and Jesse.

But there was some conflicting statements between Cherie and Jesse.

If you don't investigate Jesse and Cherie to the fullest, you make a very easy argument for a defense attorney to create doubt in a jury's mind. And that's exactly what would have happened if we had not followed up on all of the red flags that came up during the course of the investigation.

If you don't investigate Jesse and Cherie to the fullest, you make a very easy argument for a defense attorney to create doubt in a jury's mind. And that's exactly what would have happened if we had not followed up on all of the red flags that came up during the course of the investigation.

If you don't investigate Jesse and Cherie to the fullest, you make a very easy argument for a defense attorney to create doubt in a jury's mind. And that's exactly what would have happened if we had not followed up on all of the red flags that came up during the course of the investigation.

There was a lot of leads that came in that were followed up on, but None of them panned out.

There was a lot of leads that came in that were followed up on, but None of them panned out.

There was a lot of leads that came in that were followed up on, but None of them panned out.

That was the hardest part of this case for me, was knowing that we have not been able to bring justice for this family.

That was the hardest part of this case for me, was knowing that we have not been able to bring justice for this family.

That was the hardest part of this case for me, was knowing that we have not been able to bring justice for this family.

Well, this was the turning point in the investigation.

Well, this was the turning point in the investigation.

Well, this was the turning point in the investigation.

My name is Paul Chavez. I was a member of the full-time crimes unit as an agent with the New Mexico State Police.

My name is Paul Chavez. I was a member of the full-time crimes unit as an agent with the New Mexico State Police.

My name is Paul Chavez. I was a member of the full-time crimes unit as an agent with the New Mexico State Police.

In this case, the magnitude of the violence involved was the worst that I had seen in my career. The brutality was unspeakable. Sherry Ortiz had found her parents and her adopted stepbrother dead within the residence. She reported that they had been shot in the head and it had occurred sometime earlier in the day.

In this case, the magnitude of the violence involved was the worst that I had seen in my career. The brutality was unspeakable. Sherry Ortiz had found her parents and her adopted stepbrother dead within the residence. She reported that they had been shot in the head and it had occurred sometime earlier in the day.

In this case, the magnitude of the violence involved was the worst that I had seen in my career. The brutality was unspeakable. Sherry Ortiz had found her parents and her adopted stepbrother dead within the residence. She reported that they had been shot in the head and it had occurred sometime earlier in the day.

There was reportedly gunshots heard the previous night in the area.

There was reportedly gunshots heard the previous night in the area.

There was reportedly gunshots heard the previous night in the area.

Once I enter into the residence, there is a master bedroom immediately to the left as you walk in. That is where the first victim, identified as Dixie Ortiz, is in her bed in her nightgown under the blankets.

Once I enter into the residence, there is a master bedroom immediately to the left as you walk in. That is where the first victim, identified as Dixie Ortiz, is in her bed in her nightgown under the blankets.

Once I enter into the residence, there is a master bedroom immediately to the left as you walk in. That is where the first victim, identified as Dixie Ortiz, is in her bed in her nightgown under the blankets.

Her upper extremities and her head is completely saturated in blood where she had sustained apparent trauma. From that bedroom, there is a drip trail which extends to the kitchen area. where we have a second victim, a young man identified as Steven Ortiz.

Her upper extremities and her head is completely saturated in blood where she had sustained apparent trauma. From that bedroom, there is a drip trail which extends to the kitchen area. where we have a second victim, a young man identified as Steven Ortiz.

Her upper extremities and her head is completely saturated in blood where she had sustained apparent trauma. From that bedroom, there is a drip trail which extends to the kitchen area. where we have a second victim, a young man identified as Steven Ortiz.

The scene was absolutely brutal.

The scene was absolutely brutal.

The scene was absolutely brutal.

The blood continued from that area out the back door where the third victim, Lloyd Ortiz, was found outside the back porch. There was a significant amount of bloodshed indicating that he did sustain some massive trauma. And there was also shrubbery from a nearby bush that was covering his head.

The blood continued from that area out the back door where the third victim, Lloyd Ortiz, was found outside the back porch. There was a significant amount of bloodshed indicating that he did sustain some massive trauma. And there was also shrubbery from a nearby bush that was covering his head.

The blood continued from that area out the back door where the third victim, Lloyd Ortiz, was found outside the back porch. There was a significant amount of bloodshed indicating that he did sustain some massive trauma. And there was also shrubbery from a nearby bush that was covering his head.

There was a small marijuana grow on the property. It was fenced off and padlocked. They did have a medical marijuana card for Stephen for some of the medical conditions he had.

There was a small marijuana grow on the property. It was fenced off and padlocked. They did have a medical marijuana card for Stephen for some of the medical conditions he had.

There was a small marijuana grow on the property. It was fenced off and padlocked. They did have a medical marijuana card for Stephen for some of the medical conditions he had.