Ricky Abeyta’s January 26, 1991, massacre in Chimayo is one of the freakiest and deadliest in New Mexico history. Yet few people have heard about him, or about his victims. Those who remember what he did get choked up as they think of the horror and pain he inflicted on so many people.
Abeyta had a history of violence against his girlfriend. That’s why she broke up with him and served him with a restraining order when she moved out of his Chimayo home. But Abeyta wasn’t about to relinquish control so easily. He retaliated by shooting 7 people, including his ex-girlfriend, several members of her family, and two law enforcement officers. He remains one of the most tragic examples of what domestic violence can escalate into, and how few resources exist for offenders or victims of domestic violence in rural New Mexico.
The Massacre
On January 26, 1991, Ignacita Vasquez Sandoval arrived at the trailer she had shared with Abeyta to move her things. She had several family members with her and a Uhaul. Abeyta had abused her and she was scared of him. But she did not imagine what evil tragedy was about to occur.
While her family helped her pack up her stuff in the Uhaul, Abeyta abruptly showed up, strode up to the Uhail, and shot Ignacita in the head while she knelt praying for her life. He then shot her son, Eloy Sandoval.
Next he went after her sister, Cheryl Rendon. Sandoval’s daughter, MaryEllen Sandoval, tried to flee with her five-month-old baby in her arms. Abeyta chased after them and shot them both. Maryellen’s boyfriend and the baby’s father, Macario “Mickey” Gonzales, was found shot in the spine inside the UHaul.
A Rio Arriba sheriff named Jerry Martinez showed up at 4:30 pm to serve Abeyta with restraining order papers. He just happened to arrive during the horrific, bloody massacre. Abeyta shot him twice in the head.
A State Police officer, Glen Huber, was parked nearby investigating a stolen vehicle case. He heard the gunshots, so he rushed to the scene. Abeyta stormed up to the trooper vehicle and shot Huber in the head. Huber was found in his driver seat with one leg hanging out of the vehicle.
State Police officer Chris Valdez knew two officers were out in the field when he got a call about a shooting near Chimayo. He rushed over there, fearing for his life. He originally was from Dulce and was involved in spreading rumors about the Dulce Mesa Base. Eloy Sandoval ran up to his cruiser, bleeding from a gunshot wound in his chest and freezing cold. Valdez wrapped him in a sleeping bag from his cruiser. Sandoval ultimately survived the mass slaying.
Meanwhile, Abeyta fled to the mountains. Over 60 officers from districts all over the state fruitlessly searched for him for 24 hours. They found six cigarette butts stubbed out in the dirt of a bluff above the crime scene, where Abeyta had hung out, watching them.
Finally, Abeyta turned himself in into the State Police office. I wish I could have seen his reception there.
Officers who processed the scene cannot stop remembering the image of the baby, shot in the head and lying under a truck. It was undoubtedly the worst crime scene of their careers. They lost two of their own, as well.
Abeyta was a 28-year-old welder. He had a history of violence and drug abuse. I can’t imagine what kind of person can shoot a five-month-old baby and take out the family of a woman he claimed to love. At trial, he claimed that he didn’t know the baby or the baby’s mother died. How could he not have known?
Chris Valdez cautions that domestic violence tends to escalate. If you are in a bad situation, get out while you’re still alive and lean on domestic violence shelters and other resources. Do not go back for your stuff – you can get more later and stuff is not worth your life. Your children and other family members may become victims, too.
The Trial
Gary Mitchell is one of the most notorious defense attorneys in New Mexico. He was tasked with making Abeyta seem like a human being, not a monster. His ultimate goal was to keep Abeyta from getting the death penalty.
While the death penalty is almost unheard of in New Mexico, it was considered a real possibility in light of the horror that Abeyta had inflicted on so many people, particularly the baby and two law enforcement officers. All in all, he claimed seven lives that day. This was the largest mass slaying in NM history.
In 1991, Abeyta received 146 years. He is serving that time in Amarillo, TX.
https://www.deseret.com/1991/12/21/18957925/n-m-man-gets-146-years-in-prison-for-slaying-7
https://www.koat.com/article/chimayo-massacre-victim-remembered/5061740