Landlord Kills and Buries Tenant in NE ABQ Home for Not Paying Rent

APD homicide detectives have charged Jonah Jeter for the murder of a tenant in August.

Jeter, 33, is accused of fatally shooting Robert Debeary, 52, on Aug. 12, 2026, and burying him in the yard of a home he owns. The home is located in the War Zone near the 200 block of Alcazar St., N.E., which is near Central Ave and Louisiana Blvd.

Debeary’s family reported Debeary missing back in August after last hearing from him on Aug. 11th of this year. Homicide detectives took over the investigation after an anonymous tip which implicated Jeter in the disappearance of Debeary.

Initially, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office took the missing report for Debeary on September 1st, 2026. They posted to their social medias asking for the public’s help locating him.

According to the criminal complaint, Jeter was confronted by the family at Debeary’s apartment and they observed his possessions were gone. Jeter was aggressive with them and they noticed a reddish/brownish stain that looked like blood on the floor. Jeter told them Debeary was evicted for not paying his rent. The complaint goes on to say that other tenants noticed an area in the yard that was sunken in. A human remains detection dog was able to find a scent in the yard indicating human remains.

Investigators found Debery’s body barely two feet underground and his remains were wrapped in a blanket and they found a receipt for the supplies to cover up the body from a hardware store.

Detectives executed search warrants in October for Jeter’s home in Northeast Albuquerque and his car. He was arrested at that time for possessing stolen firearms found in his car.

Detectives later searched the residence on Alcazar St. that Jeter had rented to tenants, including Debery. On Oct. 27, human remains were located in a small yard space about two feet underground. We observed a large presence of Albuquerque investigators that were on scene at the home.

An autopsy determined the body, identified as Debeary, had a gunshot wound to the head.

Detectives continued to investigate the death and charged Jeter today with an open count of murder, three counts of tampering with evidence, and aggravated burglary. He is in custody at the Metro Detention Center.