The initial investigation indicated that the Nissan Altima driven by Leanna Florez, 24, of Blanco, NM was traveling west on U.S. 64. For unknown reasons the Altima crossed the center line and crashed head-on into the Toyota Tundra. Florez, who doesn’t appear to have been wearing a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
From NM State Police
Monday, October 31, 2022
On October 29, at about 4:00 p.m., New Mexico State Police officers were dispatched to U.S. Highway 64 near milepost 79, east of Bloomfield for a head-on crash involving a 2012 Nissan Altima and a 2015 Toyota Tundra.
The initial investigation indicated that the Nissan Altima driven by Leanna Florez, 24, of Blanco, NM was traveling west on U.S. 64. For unknown reasons the Altima crossed the center line and crashed head-on into the Toyota Tundra. Florez, who doesn’t appear to have been wearing a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
The 58-year-old male driver and the three passengers in the Tundra were transported to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries. Their conditions are not known.
Alcohol use does appear to have been a factor in this crash. This crash is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with multiple individuals including juveniles and young adults and located a deceased individual identified as Samuell Tariq Liggins, age 20.
Following an extensive investigation by Farmington Police Department detectives, an arrest warrant was issued for 40-year-old Matthew Sandoval, who is known to have a family connection to Madrid, who has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence. On March 28, Sandoval was located by U.S. Marshals in the 400 block of W. Animas. Farmington Police officers responded and arrested Sandoval on the outstanding warrant.
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Officers canvassed the area for the suspect; however, investigators believe the individual left the area prior to police arrival. The Farmington Police Department is releasing a video of a person of interest. The video shows a male on a bicycle headed east on Navajo Street towards Lincoln Avenue. The Farmington Police Department urges anyone with information or video surveillance from the area to contact detectives at 505-599-1068.
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Reports indicated the child had been locked in a chicken coop for extended periods and exposed to extreme weather conditions. Detectives immediately responded, removed the child from the home, and gathered evidence corroborating the allegations.