Sandoval Co. Sheriff’s Office releases names of 3 suspects in bloody murder

The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday released the names of the three men accused of murdering three people and burying their bodies in a shallow grave on San Felipe Pueblo.

The three men charged in the murders are Alberto Rodriguez, of Los Lunas; Samuel Jimenez-Perez and Omar Flores-Castillo, of Albuquerque. Jimenez-Perez’s address was listed as the Sandoval County Detention Center.

All three are charged with three counts of capital murder, three counts of first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, tampering with evidence to wit, receiving or transferring stolen vehicles and extreme cruelty to animals – all felonies.

Rodriguez and Jimenez-Perez were both arrested June 10. The warrant for Flores-Castillo’s arrest did not note that he had been arrested.

The sheriff’s office identified the victims June 9 as 32-year-old John Santistevan and 48-year-old Geraldine Sena. Lt. Keith Elder, the SCSO spokesman, said that day the third body is likely that of 25-year-old Samuel Sena, but the Office of the Medical Investigator is working to positively identify it as Sena.

Lt. Elder says investigators believe the third body is the younger Sena because all three were reported missing March 17 by various family members. The three bodies were found miles away from anabandoned, blood-soaked pickup truck that was found nearDiamond Tail Ranch Feb. 29 and was linked to their murders.

Sandoval Co. detectives and Homeland Security Investigation have received information the three had connections with people transporting stolen vehicles from Albuquerque to Mexico and were involved in drug trafficking, mail theft and other felonies.

Lt. Elder added that the three were in a pickup truck similar to the bloody one found near the ranch the night before it was found.

Lt. Elder said June 9 the suspects would also face federal charges, but those have yet to be filed.