Son Butchers Mom and Lies About It, Son Charged with Murder

Albuquerque –

APD homicide detectives arrested Leroy Vallejos, 49, for murdering and partially dismembering his mother, Ernestina Lucero.

Officers were called to the Lucero’s home on Tuesday for a welfare check after Vallejos told a home health care company that he had not seen his 69-year-old mother for a week. Vallejos called the company asking to be paid for her care, even though he said he had not seen her.

The company requested APD officers to check on Lucero. When they made contact with Vallejos at the home, located near Rhode Island and Copper N.E., he allowed officers to search the house. He said his mother had left to Mexico but officers found her current medication bottles in her bedroom and continued to search the house further. An officer found garbage bags in a large freezer that appeared to include human remains. The remains were eventually identified by the Office of the Medical Investigator as being the missing woman.

Homicide detectives learned that another family member reported Lucero as missing. APD sent out a missing persons bulletin on Oct. 23, 2025, and started an investigation. Detectives discovered that Vallejos was suspected of withdrawing cash from his mother’s debit card and her vehicle was sold prior to her being reported missing. Missing Persons detectives were in the process of attempting to interview Vallejos about the case when the request for the welfare check was made.

During an interview with homicide detectives on Tuesday, Vallejos admitting to choking his mother to death about three weeks ago. He claimed Lucero was conspiring with others for years to wage a campaign of intimidation and harassment against him. He said his mother was part of a “group of people giving their lives to darkness.” Vallejos said he “snapped” and put his mother in a choke hold, strangling her.

Vallejos is charged with an open count of murder and tampering with evidence. He was booked overnight into the Metro Detention Center.