Albuquerque –
Detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department charged two women for the fatal shooting of Adam Morres on the morning of August 22, 2024. Morres, 24, was murdered just hours after he was released from jail.
On Wednesday, federal law enforcement authorities in Los Angeles apprehended Katherine Silas, 23, and Samanta Villalba, 27. Both individuals are facing separate charges of murder and tampering with evidence.
On August 22, at approximately 6:30 AM, police responded to a shooting incident at 516 Hermosa Drive NE*. The victim, Morres, was found in the driver’s seat of a silver Toyota vehicle and sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Despite being transported to a hospital, Morres died from his injuries two days later. Homicide detectives assumed control of the investigation on August 24.
Through an investigation, APD homicide detectives ascertained that Morres was acquainted with Silas and Villalba, individuals implicated in drug trafficking activities. In January 2024, they were indicted in Arizona for their involvement in drug trafficking.
Detectives in a criminal complaint assert that Morres contacted Villalba on August 20th, the day of his arrest, and requested that she arrange for another individual to collect Morres’s belongings prior to his transportation to jail. This individual subsequently took possession of the belongings, including Morres’s mobile device.
During the homicide investigation, detectives tracked Morres’s phone, which appeared to be in Villalba’s possession until the time of the murder.
Detectives determined through investigation that Villalba and Silas were upset with Morres for betraying them at the time of the murder.
Editor note: APD’s Civilian PIO stated this happened in southeast ABQ and it was in NE. You can read our initial story on this murder here:
Not the brightest bulbs on the tree lol. Pretty common knowledge you can track cellphones. In addition rather than face drug charges they opted for murder instead. That’s why the call it dope.
FREE SAM !