when they looked at old pictures of the mesa. Ida Lopez, a missing persons detective from the Alberquerque Police Department, became increasingly attached to the unsolved homicide of 11 women and an unborn fetus, whose remains were discovered in one of the city's deserts back in 2009. they came up with their profile of who they thought we were looking for, including that profile was a white male. he wouldn't say what the plans were because the only, you know, close person i knew had cancer and died. >> reporter: but some do. -ahhh. >> reporter: the conclusion was inescapable. As a result of the subsequent police investigation, authorities discovered the remains of 11 women and girls[8] and a fetus buried in the area. that changed when michelle failed to show up for angelica's seventh birthday party. Happy New Year! >> i took it upon myself to tape them, tape every event. >> no. who got an awful skin condition. Police budgets are stretched thin. let's exchange phone numbers. after years of having only her rap sheet and her father's bittersweet memories to go on, ida lopez was now sure she knew where michelle valdez was. maybe we ought to, you know, be a little more proactive. >> and the man in the car was? there could be very realistically a lot of bodies. who was responsible for turning the west mesa into an unmarked cemetery? >> reporter: one of those women, safira mora, was found alive and well a few weeks after this story first aired in december 2010. right now the killer, if he's still alive, has plenty of it. >> yeah. >> i looked up to her for many things. and every time the phone rang his heart stopped. A&E reported how the group burial had all the hallmarks of a serial killer's actions.According to the Associated Press, February 2, 2022, marked the 13th . and the guy goes toward him, and he's tackled by police. i think he's been preying on his victims, has a particular victim in mind. but at the time it was routine low priority policework. >> reporter: cops call this section of central avenue the war zone. their lifestyle has been with drugs. there's a better choice. and they'd go through the alley, do their tricks in the alley. >> how many other detectives ins missing persons? >> dan, she was i.d. and she said no, dad. [17] In June 2018, more bones were found near the site of the burials, but these were later determined to be ancient and not related to the West Mesa murders. >> reporter: though the detectives spent months combing through all the evidence taken from the photographer's office and home, nothing definitive was found. >> okay. [7], On February 2, 2009, a woman walking a dog found a human bone on the West Mesa, and reported it to police. >> it was breaking angelica's. The case reportedly began in 2005 when Lopez was handed files of a few missing women, one of whom was a 25-year-old prostitute named Michelle Valdez from New Mexico's largest city, Alberquerque. >> i love you, michelle. -or maybe he didn't know. [9] Police confirmed that they had cleared Erwin as a suspect. They may have been OD's? (vo) automatically sort your expenses and save over 40 hours a month. >> the hardest part of this whole thing is having to go to somebody's house and say we found her and she's not alive. Although Montoya fit the description, the West Mesa serial killer remains unidentified. [7], Soon after, Wozniak was apprehended by US Marshals while at his bachelor party two days before his wedding. >> reporter: for detectives like todd babcock it all seemed to add up. so it's a matter of time before they go back out. maybe i did something wrong. >> did you see her then? sure, why not? tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision. and detective ida lopez, who'd had their names on her list of missing women. that they're actually doing okay. so why am i still thinking about this? >> i was devastated. it was comforting that it didn't just happen to me. Dateline is the long-running, award-winning news magazine bringing viewers stories ranging from compelling mysteries to powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. dan tried to keep a watchful eye on his girls and even took them to work with him at the juvenile detention center to show them on where careless mistakes can lead. According to the Albuquerque Police Department, something didn't sit right with Christine Ross when her dog Ruca found a bone on their walk in the West Mesa. missing persons were attractive women in their 20s, with arrest records for drugs and prostitution.r both had seemingly vanished without a word to friends or relatives. what if the west mesa grave digger was a prolific transient? -he did show us how to bundle home and auto at progressive.com and save a bunch of money. All of the women, except 15-year-old Jamie Barela, had one thing in common: They were all involved in drugs and sex work. Uploaded by There's no question Stephen did it: But was he. >> reporter: in february, five months after michelle was last seen, dan went down to the albuquerque police station and formally reported his daughter missing. After more than five years of court proceedings, Wozniak went to trial and was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder. >> correct. the mother road's glory days are behind her now. and in spite of their example, they can't quit the life. City and law enforcement officials have solicited help from the community to solve the West Mesa murders. she confirmed that that looked like a femur bone and i should call the authorities. not all those questions have been answered as of yet. >> i want to talk to you. >> like?wr >> the drugs. >> reporter: desiree gonzalez says she used to hang out on these streets and says she knew several of the missing women and had also heard those same rumors. >> reporter: this michelle, along with her sister camille and half sister kendra, was a cut-up and a clown. there were whole bunches of them. i said all right. the drugs. it's where they needed somebody, and it worked out, you know, for me. Although they have had several suspects, two of whom seemed to fit the description quite well, they have yet to find compelling evidence to close the case. >> we went back starting in 2002, and we got the records from our local jail. -oh, a plaque. she struggled to hold it all together. she was at -- you know, at a hurting spot. if the serial killer who preyed on their city is still alive, he's probably moved on to another hunting ground. >> somebody that lives here? >> reporter: from a pool of hundreds wendy first narrowed the field to 30, then to 10, and then to 1. one girl whose face, age, and biography seemed to match what she saw in the sketch. a growing list of suspects. a thigh bone had been found out on albuquerque's west mesa. this is storied territory, where native american tribes, conquistadors, and cowboys once roamed. one woman determined to find them. >> the reality is it was kind of like this is not happening. Article continues below advertisement A North Miami woman bent on revenge was convicted Wednesday of gunning down the ex-business partner she blamed for the murder of her alleged drug-dealer husband. he's a photographer. >> reporter: and so in july 2005, after a few months of recuperation as a reserve officer, the department offered ida a 20-hour-a-week desk job working missing persons. born to move. ), First published on February 2, 2019 / 12:05 PM. 's criminal investigations unit, says the department chased leads all over the country, from texas, where a woman with profile similar to those of the west mesa women-v also gone missing. >> she says i have some bad news for you. >> there could be somebody up there right now. >> reporter: most of the new girls either never knew or barely remember the women whose places they've taken. >> for a long time the news would be full of stories about girls who were missing and everybody's looking for them. short lady. >> i didn't even -- i didn't even want to be around it anymore. and i thought, well, i need to make further plans. >> reporter: over the years ida's career blossomed. All Rights Reserved. >> honestly, i don't remember the last time i seen her. i've been beat. >> reporter: when christine ross decided to take her dog ruca for a walk. >> it was in september of 2004. t and so that gave me an empathy for them on that part, and i thought, wow, this has got to be powerful. [9] In 2010, a reward of up to $100,000 was being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.[11]. only activia has billions of our live and active probiotics. as spring turned to summer that, year, dan, his ex-wife, and his daughters plastered flyers with michelle's picture all over central avenue asking anyone who'd seen her to call the albuquerque police department. and i carried this little flyer in my pocket and in my car, you know, for the last, you know, four years. >> did you notice when the girls were going missing? do not use if you are allergic to dupixent. >> it's -- i know she had been to albuquerque at least one prior time. According to Dateline, because of what they did and how they lived their stories might not have been told.. Crime. thank you. get $100 back when you bring in an eligible phone. but she kept coming up empty. -you're not even enrolled in this class. To this day, law enforcement officials have been unable to discover the true identity of the murderer, despite the fact that they have a list of potential suspects, two of whom are. you know, my husband's got young kids to take care of. According to the Albuquerque Journal, it all began when a woman out for a walk with her dog in a part of the city known as the West Mesa made a grisly discovery in February 2009. No one noticed they were gone.. Photo Source According to New Mexico State University, the FBI has investigated long-haul truck drivers as suspects in murders of sex workers along major highways, and authorities have reason to believe that Edwards was one such victim. or whatever, see somebody that may appear to be the size of michelle, a small person, and go around the block two or three times and me wondering who they were as well as them wondering who i was. >> no. "They all had families that care for them.". >> maybe there are women out there who aren't on any list. Please logout and login again. >> they wouldn't even put her picture on the news or nothing. s i just learned the absolute e dependence on the drug for the girls because there's no way in your right mind you're going to get into a car and do what this person just told you to do. i find her months later. For current Fan Club membership options and policies, please . and there's a foot chase. where did she come from? no dna. davy. In 2005, she was handed two missing persons files including missing 25-year-old Michelle Valdez,. 11. it turned out all were women. jane doe number 8 was michelle valdez. >> frightening. Julie Gonzales, the sister of murder victim Doreen Marquez, told KRQE the . >> i saw it on tv on february 2nd, when christina ross and her dog ruca was reported on the. [8][9], After repeatedly lying to police, Wozniak finally confessed. >> reporter: as you will soon see, timing, both perfect and not so perfect, will play a critical part in the story we're about to show you. -what a sign, huh? >> reporter: dan knew about the drugs and twice got her to agree to enter rehab.ug but michelle never showed up.nt increasingly there were run-ins with the law. Fred Reynolds was a pimp who knew one of the missing women and reportedly had photos of missing sex workers; he died of natural causes in January 2009. [19][21], In August 2010, police searched several properties in Joplin, Missouri associated with local photographer and businessman Ron Erwin in connection with the West Mesa cases. -, Press J to jump to the feed. I think there's a Disappeared episode relating to it as well. The Disturbing Story Of The West Mesa Murders And The Serial Killer Who Remains Uncaught. it's fast itch relief. After more than five years of court proceedings, Wozniak went to trial and was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder. >> no.n' not at all. and sure enough, they too were names on ida lopez's list of missing women. Tonight's episode of Dateline: Unforgettable Season 2 will have Josh Mankiewicz narrate the story of the dedicated detective Ida Lopez, who is still working on these decade-old cases to help the victims and their families find some form of justice. high school, college. but in the end ida was able to make everybody care. >> how much of your time is this taking? There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. >> possibly the killer? An arrest was made in April 2020, but more people were likely involved. >> he may be waiting in some other community to start doing the same thing again. turning up on the mesa. Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 14:32, List of fugitives from justice who disappeared, List of serial killers in the United States, "The West Mesa Murders: A Central American Connection? the gruesome cult sacrifice of Mark Kilroy. The published list also included the names of eight of the 11 West Mesa murder victims . >> i start going out there and talking to the girls. Case 27: The West Mesa Bone Collector. Barela is the only victim who police say wasn't known to have been subjected to sex trafficking. >> reporter: soon there were five missing women with eerily similar profiles on ida's list. >> all six sets of remains were found within 20 yards of each other. >> reporter: though both dan and camille valdez believe michelle's killer is still alive, dan prefers these days to dwell on the things he knows for sure. The toddler peddled a small trike across the couple's driveway and out of view of the camera as Mesaa . start with supporting your gut health. Albuquerqueans dont relate to the victims. -it's kind of like driving with his dad. She was found buried next to her 27-year-old cousin, Evelyn Salazar. >> in the whole wide world. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. >> reporter: the name, the face, belonged to michelle valdez, one of the first women on ida's list. Women living a primal lifestyle are tribal. fabric refresher even works for clothes you want to wear another day. The mysteries surrounding the West Mesa Murders, an unsolved case of 11 female bodies discovered in a desert graveyard near Albuquerque in 2009. >> homicidal violence. it's pretty much the easiest way to save since sliced bread. >> no. shocking talk on the streets. because deep within your skin an overly sensitive immune system could be the cause. do you think you'll ever find them? That way if women started disappearing again, there might be more advocates who notice and help in raising concerns, Barber said. that was easy! She said that people should not lose hope, that there is no statute of limitations on crimes like these, and that the police will work the West Mesa Murders until the case is solved. in this 2002 image of the area where the bones were discovered there's nothing unusual. A sinister force seems to be snatching women off the streets of Albuquerque. >> reporter: it had to be someone local, investigators assumed. the news media had shown little interest in the story when desperate family members had come to them asking for help. click, call, or visit a store today. >> it was growing, and i had kidney cancer. >> reporter: lorenzo montoya, a short, powerfully built man in his 30s who was known to have an, equally short temper and a taste for prostitutes. i am comfortable with the fact that we gave her a proper burial as a human being should be buried. but you know what? with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe eczema, or atopic dermatitis, you feel like you're itching all the time. maybe it was camille saying no or whatever. oh right. and where was he now? Janepsy "Cindy" Carballo's life was shattered in an instant when a hail of gunfire erupted outside her North Miami home. she said, michelle. they were able to get me a booking photograph of what syllania looked like around the time that she died, we believe. | Dr. Phil", "Dr. Phil | Actress Accused: Was She an Accessory to Murder? apoquel may increase the chance of developing serious infections and may cause existing parasitic skin infestations or pre-existing cancers to worsen. Within a year, they had identified all of the 11 victims, which ranged in age from 15 to 32. [15][16] On December 13, 2010, police reported that two of the women in the photos had been identified as alive, and could have valuable information if they can be located. New Mexico State University", "Fair prostitutes help West Mesa murders", "The Untold Truth Of The West Mesa Murders", "APD Talks 10-Year Investigation Into West Mesa Murders", "The West Mesa Murders And The Bone Collector Behind Them", "Updated: Seven years later, one detective remains on West Mesa killings", "AMW Fugitives West Mesa Bone Collector Case", "Women's photos may link to mesa murders", "West Mesa Serial Killer--$100,000 Reward", "Lawton girl was only teen in mass grave", "Albuquerque police release photos in West Mesa murders investigation (warning: content may be disturbing for some people)", "Police identify 2 women from photos, both alive", "Dateline To Air Story on West Mesa Deaths", "West Mesa Bone Collector Albuquerque NM", "Police Pursue Possible Leads In West Mesa Cases", "Albuquerque police release photos in West Mesa murders investigation", "Joplin man says he has been cleared of suspicion in serial murders", "Colorado killer quizzed in mesa murders", "Does APD have a suspect in the West Mesa Murders? sure is. >> reporter: nine months after the discovery of the first bone on the west mesa the detectives were back to square one. [9] The following day the police released an additional photograph of another woman; this woman was subsequently identified by family members, who reported that she had died of natural causes several years earlier. ask your eczema specialist about dupixent. and all had worked as prostitutes on the mean streets of the city's war zone. >> reporter: and for albuquerque's homicide detectives there was the most pressing question of all. can you imagine 24 hours without heartburn? -uh, yes. All but one of the victims of the West Mesa murders were born and raised in New Mexico and were Hispanic. ten. there were still seven missing women who fit the profile on ida lopez's list. >> that's correct. The only emerging pattern was that 10 of the victims were sex workers or victims of sex trafficking. >> so you told michelle she couldn't come over? Jan 1 2018 34 mins. a camera might figure it out. Mesa and their son were shot outside their home, their son was only injured. sometimes into the wee hours of the morning. >> at one point syllania had been arrested up in the denver area for prostitution, going by a different name at the time. >> he's in the area where the prostitutes frequent. She released her statement through Young Women United, a nonprofit where she helps with programs geared toward assisting women in need. Two years later a local family of four, the Wagners, are arrested and charged with the crimes. i noticed when she started seeing one of her boyfriends, you know. serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, a severe reaction. was a serial killer stalking the women working the war zone? (vo) you earned it, we're here to make sure you get it. In 2006 there were reportedly dirt trails leading from his trailer park to the site. West Mesa Murders satellite photos show the undeveloped land where the victims were discovered. looking for michelle. >> so many young women missing. - Investigation Discovery", "Sam Herr, Juri 'Julie' Kibuishi: 'The Perfect Murder' On Investigation Discovery Afghanistan War Vet, California Tutor Killed By Actor In Plot To Have Lavish Wedding", "48 Hours-Killer Performance - Video Dailymotion", "Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent | Watch Full Episodes & More!