Ricky Abeyta

Case overview

Ricky Abeyta (29) was described as a construction worker and a self-employed carpenter from nearby Chimayo who went on a shooting rampage when his girl-friend moved out. The shooting rampage occurred in the Chimayó area, near Española and Chimayo, and resulted in multiple deaths including two police officers.

People involved

• Ricky Abeyta (29) — defendant; described as a construction worker/self-employed carpenter and a skilled hunter; testified in his own defense.
• Ignacita Sandoval (36) — Abeyta’s girlfriend; killed in the attack.
• Maryellen Sandoval (19) — Ignacita’s daughter; killed in the attack.
• Justin Gonzales — Maryellen’s 6-month-old son; killed in the attack.
• Macario Gonzales (21) — Maryellen’s boyfriend/baby’s father; killed in the attack.
• Cheryl Rendon (25) — Ignacita’s sister; killed in the attack.
• Eloy Sandoval (13) — Ignacita’s son; suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound.
• Celina Gonzales — Ignacita’s sister; escaped injury by fleeing out a window.
• Nikki Rendon (3) — Cheryl Rendon’s daughter; escaped injury by fleeing out a window.
• Dora (35) — one of Abeyta’s sisters; charged with attempted murder.
• Sandra (19) — one of Abeyta’s sisters; charged with aggravated battery.
• Manuel Sanchez — Abeyta’s brother-in-law; accompanied Abeyta to state police headquarters.
• Bonifacio Vasquez — brother of two victims; said: "Help us keep this bloodthirsty, vicious murderer behind bars."
• Gary Mitchell — defence attorney mentioned in connection with trying to avoid the death penalty.
• Angela Pacheco — First Judicial District Attorney mentioned as helping then-district attorney Chester Walter and former chief deputy district attorney Henry Valdez try the case.
• Chester Walter — then-district attorney mentioned as helping try the case.
• Henry Valdez — former chief deputy district attorney mentioned as helping try the case.
• Richard C. de Baca — state Secretary of Public Safety; quoted about lasting impact.
• Barbara Martinez — community mental health official; quoted about stress and the shootings.
• Maj. John Denko — state police major; quoted.
• Sgt. David Osuna — state police sergeant; identified the dead.
• Officer Glen Huber — State Police officer; killed in the attack.
• Deputy Jerry Martinez (30) — Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department deputy; killed in the attack.
• Magistrate Richard C. Martinez — magistrate who ordered Abeyta held without bail and urged him "to reflect on the lives" lost.
• Magistrate Richard C. Martinez — also quoted about domestic violence resulting in violent acts.
• Magistrate Court Judge Joe Madrid — State Police officer at the time; quoted.
• Maj. John Denko — quoted about officers being caught by surprise.
• Major Denko — quoted about the situation becoming volatile before arrival.
• Sgt. Chris Valdez — state police sergeant then a patrolman; quoted about the call.
• State Sen. Richard Martinez (D-Española) — quoted about domestic violence as root cause.
• Captain James O. Jennings — New Mexico State Police captain; took Abeyta into custody.
• Sgt. Gary Smith — New Mexico State Police; took Abeyta into custody.
• Officer Danny Lichtenberger — New Mexico State Police; took Abeyta into custody.
• Richard Martinez — mentioned as the state senator; also referenced as the magistrate judge who arraigned Abeyta and his two sisters.
• Robert Ortega — owner of Ortega’s Weaving; quoted about watching police flood the town.
• Mike Kaemper — covered the story for the SUN; quoted about arriving and hearing details.
• William Diven — contributed to a story.
• Judge Joe Madrid — also mentioned as godfather of Huber’s daughter; quoted.
• Seeds — described as Robert Seeds; quoted.
• Officer GLEN MICHAEL HUBER — included in end-of-watch material; cause of death gunfire.
• Deputy Sheriff JERRY ARNOLD MARTINEZ — included in end-of-watch material; cause of death gunfire.

Timeline

• January 26, 1991 — Abeyta shot and killed Ignacita Sandoval, her 19-year-old daughter Maryellen Sandoval, Maryellen’s 6-month-old son Justin Gonzales, Maryellen’s boyfriend Macario Gonzales, and Ignacita’s sister Cheryl Rendon; he also shot and killed State Police Officer Glen Huber and Deputy Sheriff Jerry Martinez during attempts to serve a restraining order; Eloy Sandoval suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound.
• January 26, 1991 — Abeyta fled into the hills after the killings, prompting a foot and helicopter search for the armed killer.
• January 27, 1991 — after nearly 24 hours, police announced that Abeyta turned himself in at the State Police office in Albuquerque around 10 p.m. the following day.
• December 20, 1991 — Abeyta was sentenced to 146 years in prison.
• November 1991 — Abeyta was tried for his crimes; he was convicted on multiple counts including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and involuntary manslaughter.

Background

Ricky Abeyta was described by neighbors in the rural town of Chimayo as a prolific hunter. Trouble began when Abeyta came home to find his girlfriend moving her things out of the mobile home they shared in Chimayo. The attacks were described in court documents as the culmination of a domestic dispute, and one of Abeyta’s alleged victims, the estranged girlfriend, had days earlier won a court order to keep him from bothering her.

In appealing for a restraining order to keep Abeyta away from her, Sandoval alleged that the defendant had fired three gunshots toward her and her car last Wednesday. According to court records, Sandoval told a domestic violence hearing officer, Carol J. Vigil, that Abeyta became angry when she told him he was moving out of their home.

The offence

Restraining order and arrival

Deputy Sheriff Jerry Martinez went to Abeyta's residence near Chimayo to serve a restraining order. Abeyta had fired three shots at Ignacita Sandoval and Celina Gonzales on the previous Wednesday. The deputy did not find Abeyta and departed before 4:00 p.m. Abeyta arrived soon after Martinez left.

State Police Officer Glen Huber was called in to assist Deputy Martinez. Another state police officer was nearby on an unrelated stolen vehicle case, and Glen Huber was described as arriving upon hearing gunfire.

Shooting and deaths

Abeyta shot and killed multiple people during an attack at the Abeyta family property/trailer/mobile home area. The New York Times account states that a policeman, a sheriff’s deputy and five other people including a 6-month-old baby were shot to death near this rural village Saturday, and that investigators announced that a suspect was in custody.

Sgt. David Osuna identified the dead as:

• Ignacita R. Sandoval, 36
• Maryellen F. Sandoval, 19
• Maryellen Sandoval’s 6-month-old son, Justin Gonzales
• Justin’s father, Macario Gonzales, 19, of Alcalde
• Cheryl Rendon, 25, of Dixon Eloy Sandoval, 13, was wounded and was in serious but stable condition at University Hospital in Albuquerque.

An earlier SUN report describes the girlfriend and relatives moving Ignacita’s things into a U-Haul trailer and three vehicles parked outside. Abeyta arrived and shot his girlfriend in the head while she was kneeling, as if in prayer, then shot her son Eloy Sandoval, who survived. Maryellen grabbed her 5-month-old baby and tried to flee; both were found shot dead; Ignacita’s sister Cheryl Rendon was also found shot dead. Macario “Mickey” Gonzales had been dropping off a load of Ignacita’s belongings in the U-Haul and was found shot in the truck shot in the spine.

In the New Mexico Department of Corrections interview material and end-of-watch narrative, witnesses reported Abeyta said: "!Con esto pagan!" (With this I pay you back!) before shooting people there with a rifle.

In the end-of-watch narrative, Abeyta also killed Officer Glen Huber when he arrived a few minutes later. Roadblocks were established; scores of officers took up the search; a helicopter equipped with night vision equipment was brought in; the fugitive evaded capture throughout the night and well into the next day.

Acquaintances, escape, and surrender

After committing the murders, Abeyta fled into the hills. Police mounted a foot and helicopter search. At about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, State Police officers received word that Abeyta, along with some of his family members, were at the District V State Police office in Albuquerque, and that he wished to surrender. Captain James O. Jennings, Sgt. Gary Smith and Officer Danny Lichtenberger took Abeyta into custody without incident.

Abeyta expressed concern that if he continued to run and hide, he would not be taken alive by police officers when they found him. He asked that he not be hurt and that he not be handcuffed. Captain Jennings assured him that he would not be hurt, but also assured him that he would be cuffed.

Abeyta’s brother-in-law, Manuel Sanchez, said: "He just knocked on my door (in Bernalillo, a town near Albuquerque) . . . and just said he wanted to surrender," Sanchez said.

Investigation

After the shootings, police announced that they mounted a foot and helicopter search for the armed killer. In one account, after a 24-hour manhunt, Abeyta surprised authorities by turning himself in to state police at Albuquerque late Sunday. In the end-of-watch material, roadblocks were established and scores of officers took up the search, and a helicopter rigged with night vision equipment was brought in.

Investigators also considered the possibility that Abeyta was not responsible for all the shootings at his home. In addition, police later found butts from Abeyta’s brand of cigarettes on a bluff overlooking the scene, described as “crawling” with police and reporters.

Arrest and custody

Abeyta was taken into custody without incident at the District V State Police office in Albuquerque. He was taken to Santa Fe without incident. He made no statements to them about the case when questioned at the time, according to Manuel Sanchez.

Magistrate Richard C. Martinez ordered him to be held without bail and urged Abeyta "to reflect on the lives" lost.

In court Monday, it was stated that Abeyta was not represented by an attorney in court Monday.

Trial

Charges and plea-related posture

Abeyta was arraigned before a Rio Arriba County magistrate Monday on three murder counts that could result in the death penalty. Prosecutors said additional murder charges were expected to be filed stemming from Saturday's massacre of seven people including two law enforcement officers and a 5-month-old boy.

In the end-of-watch narrative, Abeyta was tried for his crimes in November, 1991. In trial proceedings noted in the SUN account, prosecutors sought the death penalty.

Arraignment and statements at proceedings

Magistrate Richard C. Martinez urged Abeyta "to reflect on the lives" lost and said: "It saddens me, yet it also sickens me when domestic violence . . . results in such violent acts which eventually take the lives of human beings, especially those of innocent children," Martinez said.

Abeyta testified in his own defense and called the Jan. 26. shootings either self-defense or accidental.

In the end-of-watch material, it states: "Tried for his crimes in November, 1991, Ricky Abeyta was convicted on four counts of first degree murder ..., and one count of involuntary manslaughter."

In the end-of-watch narrative, Abeyta was acquitted of attempted murder for shooting Eloy Sandoval. The attempt-to-murder acquittal is stated explicitly in the record.

Sister charges

Also arraigned Monday were Abeyta’s sisters:

• Dora, 35 — charged with attempted murder.
• Sandra, 19 — charged with aggravated battery.

Jury verdict

At the trial, Abeyta was found guilty on:

• four counts of first-degree murder
• two counts of second-degree murder
• one count of involuntary manslaughter

A jury deliberated for 11 days before deciding to give him life in prison, according to previous SUN reports. The lawyer for Ricky Abeyta, Gary Mitchell, tried to keep Abeyta from getting the death penalty.

Sentencing

Ricky Abeyta was sentenced on December 20, 1991 to 146 years in prison. In one report, a construction worker who went on a shooting rampage when his girl-friend moved out, killing her and six others, including two police officers, was sentenced Friday to 146 years in prison.

The end-of-watch narrative specifies that combined and served consecutively, Abeyta's sentences totaled 146 years.

Appeals

No appeals or appeal outcomes are stated in the source material provided.

Outcome

Abeyta remained in state prison in Amarillo, Tex., serving a 146-year sentence with no parole, according to an online inmate database. The status remains as a 146-year sentence.

Victims: identification and roles (as described)

Law enforcement

• State Police Officer Glen Huber (35) — shot by Abeyta; killed. End of watch materials list: End of Watch: Saturday January 26, 1991; Cause of Death: Gunfire.
• Deputy Sheriff Jerry Martinez (30) — deputy killed by Abeyta.

Family of the girlfriend

• Ignacita Sandoval (36) — killed.
• Maryellen Sandoval (19) — killed.
• Justin Gonzales — 6-month-old son; killed.
• Macario Gonzales (21) / (19 in another account) — killed; described as the boyfriend and father of Justin/son.
• Cheryl Rendon (25) / (24 in another account) — killed.
• Eloy Sandoval (13) — wounded; non-fatal gunshot wound.
• Celina Gonzales — escaped injury by fleeing out a window.
• Nikki Rendon (3) — escaped injury by fleeing out a window; described as Cheryl Rendon’s niece/daughter.

Other details

Quotes and public statements included

• Bonifacio Vasquez, brother of two victims: "Help us keep this bloodthirsty, vicious murderer behind bars,"
• Magistrate Richard C. Martinez: "It saddens me, yet it also sickens me when domestic violence . . . results in such violent acts which eventually take the lives of human beings, especially those of innocent children,"

State Secretary of Public Safety Richard C de Baca: "This has to have lasting impact," and also: "We made history . . . it's a bitter pill to swallow."

Community mental health official Barbara Martinez: "Before this happened was the (Persian Gulf) war. Since the shootings I haven't heard a thing about the war, and that tells me something. People already are under a lot of stress, and this is something else for them to endure."

Maj. John Denko: "Evidently, the situation became volatile before they got there," and: "They were caught by surprise, totally off guard."

Sgt. Chris Valdez: "I got the call, and I knew Jerry (Martinez) and Glen (Huber) were out there, but I had no idea they'd been shot," and: "I showed up there and this kid (Eloy Sandoval) came running toward me with a gunshot wound in his chest. I grabbed a sleeping bag I had in my car and wrapped him up. He was freezing cold."

Sgt. Chris Valdez: "The first thing I see was this young kid with his chest bleeding," and: "It was sort of like chaos. I was calling to Glen (Huber) to tell me where to go, and we didn't know if Ricky (Abeyta) was still in the house."

Magistrate Court Judge Joe Madrid: "That's the last time I saw (Huber) alive," and: "It was a rough deal, bro. It was awful."

Valdez: "They prepare you in the (state Law Enforcement Training) Academy to see one of your own dead," and: "They tell you, 'You're going to see a New Mexico State Police officer dead,' and so you learn to deal with that. But not a 5-month-old baby."

Valdez: "Domestic violence escalates," and: "Studies show that once violence happens in a relationship, it just escalates and gets worse, and it becomes a vicious cycle, especially when kids are involved. This senseless killing was brought on by domestic violence."

State Sen. Richard Martinez (D-Española): "These are the types of situations that arise from domestic violence, the types of situations that happen when people get to arguing over petty things such as furniture and personal effects," and: "It's just unfortunate. Somebody just loses it, and it becomes a big old tragedy."

Valdez: "They were both ambushed," and: "That happens every day, officers are in volatile situations. Statistics show officers are killed more often at a domestic violence call. The parties are already angry by the time they show up."

Magistrate Court Judge Joe Madrid: "The lesson I learned most was after you go to work, it's like a basketball player — you better have the right mentality and have your game face on because there's a chance you might not come home," and also: "The lesson I learned most was after you go to work, it's like a basketball player — you better have the right mentality and have your game face on because there's a chance you might not come home,".

Robert Ortega: "This has to have lasting impact," and: "I was standing right here watching all the cop cars go by," and: "I'm used to the silver Santa Fe (County Sheriff’s Department) cars, the gold Rio Arriba (County Sheriff’s Department) cars, and the black and white staters. But there were all these police cars from other districts."

Robert Ortega: "I didn't really know what was happening," and: "I remember throughout the night we were getting bits and pieces of information. It wasn't like today with instant news."

Mike Kaemper: "I was down in Albuquerque at my sister’s house, and they broke in and said there's been this shooting and a manhunt," and: "I got in my car and drove up straight to the scene."

Mike Kaemper: "I arrived in Chimayó after dark. It was freezing cold and no one knew where Abeyta was, he said." and: "Everyone was talking about how (Abeyta) was this incredible sharpshooter," and: "The lore was he could knock the bell off a goat from 100 yards."

Mike Kaemper: "It was just me, and I couldn't communicate with anybody," and: "I had police scanner, so I was glued to scanner to hear what was going on. But ultimately I don't think the heater worked in my car, so I sat in Robert Seeds' truck."

Robert Seeds: "I had talked to Glen (Huber) earlier that afternoon, and we were going to have a few burgers and a barbecue," and: "As soon as I heard what was going on, I went out there. I'll never forget that."

Robert Seeds: "Glen (Huber) was a true leader in that he had the respect of all the officers he worked with," and: "He’s the type of guy who would stay out there until you were safe before he shut down his shift for the day. Glen epitomized leadership."

Abeyta’s described response and other reported past behavior

The record states Abeyta called the shootings self-defense or accidental. Authorities said Abeyta had a temper and had been arrested in the past but never convicted on a variety of charges including aggravated assault, harassment by telephone and larceny. Abeyta was said by authorities to possess a temper.

Place descriptions and community context

Chimayo is described as a small, clannish town in the rugged Sangre de Cristo foothills, 20 miles north of Santa Fe. It had been known primarily for its 175-year-old El Santuario de Chimayo church, where thousands of Catholic faithful come each year to pray and be healed. Dirt in a hole in the church floor has been said for more than a century to possess miraculous curative powers. The town of 2,500 is also known for the red chili peppers grown by its farmers.

Details about Officer Glen Huber’s background and funeral

Officer Glen Huber’s biography includes: born in Boulder, Colorado; raised in Roswell and Santa Fe, New Mexico; graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1973; graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute in 1975; graduated from New Mexico State University in 1977; served four years in the U. S. Army, honorably discharged with the rank of first lieutenant; joined the State Police in 1981; resigned in 1986 to become town marshal in Pecos, New Mexico; returned to the State Police in 1988 and was a senior patrolman at the time of his death. He was survived by a daughter from his first marriage as well as a daughter from his second marriage, and he had two stepdaughters. He was buried at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe with full military and police honors. His funeral procession was ten miles long.

Details about Deputy Jerry Martinez’s background and family

Deputy Jerry Martinez was born in Chimayo and graduated from Española High School. He studied criminology at San Francisco Community College and the College of Santa Fe. He served as a paratrooper with the U. S. Army and planned to run for Rio Arriba County Sheriff in 1992. He was survived by his wife, Lisa, and two children, Nick, 5, and Destiny, a two-week old baby; his parents, Roman and Molly Martinez; and a brother, Rocky.

Names, spelling variants present in the source

The source materials include spelling variants such as “Ignacita Vasquez Sandoval” and “Ignacita R. Sandoval,” and uses “Cheryl Renden” and “Cheryl Rendon” in different places, along with “Marcario Gonzales” and “Marcario Gonzales, 18” and varying ages for Macario/Macario “Mickey” Gonzales in different accounts; the underlying individuals are named as shown in the record above.