When Detectives questioned Morales and Lopez about the stolen vehicle, they stated they didn’t have anywhere to stay, so they broke into a house to stay warm. The house they broke into was also freezing so they left and came across the running Jeep and decided to take it.
From the San Juan County Sheriff's Office:
On Monday, January 8th 2018, a resident in Crouch Mesa was letting her Jeep warm up outside of her home around 4:45am, when the vehicle was stolen from the driveway. Later that day, the Jeep was recovered in Kirtland and a male and female suspect were identified as Cassandra Morales and Alberto Lopez of Arizona. Both suspects confessed to stealing the Jeep and breaking into a separate residence on CR 3320.
When Detectives questioned Morales and Lopez about the stolen vehicle, they stated they didn’t have anywhere to stay, so they broke into a house to stay warm. The house they broke into was also freezing so they left and came across the running Jeep and decided to take it. The stolen jeep was abandoned soon after Farmington PD located it driving in Farmington and followed it to Kirtland, where they eventually lost sight of it. The suspects got scared and left the vehicle in a driveway that was well hidden and took off on foot. The two suspects contacted a nearby homeowner and asked for a ride into town; he agreed and dropped them off in Farmington. After some investigating, Detectives contacted the individual that gave the suspect a ride into town and were able to establish a possible location and description of the suspects. Detectives Fincher and Nyce found the couple sitting in front of the Salvation Army in Farmington, where they were taken to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office for questioning and later booked into the San Juan County Adult Detention Center.
Sheriff’s Deputies recovered a separate stolen vehicle out of Arizona on January 15th, which was found near the house that was broken into in Crouch Mesa on January 8th. Based off the evidence found in the vehicle, along with surveillance footage it is believed the two individuals are involved in both cases. This case is still under investigation and both suspects could be facing additional charges soon.
AirCare 3 is a Pilatus PC-12 Legacy. It joins AirCare 1, a Bell 429 twin engine helicopter, and AirCare 2, a Pilatus PC-12 NGX, all owned by San Juan Regional Medical Center and operated by Air Methods.
The San Juan County Extension Service Building project is one of 14 projects funded by $13 million recovered in New Mexico’s 2022 settlements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA contractors, and mining defendants for injuries to natural resources resulting from the August 2015 Gold King Mine blowout.
The (Four Corners Freight Rail) project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing resilience and improving system and service performance, as the project will provide a viable freight transportation modal alternative to highway trucking, opportunities to simplify the supply chain, and enable new, rail-dependent economic development opportunities thereby imparting benefits to the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities.
The victim is a 12-year old boy who died of apparent stab wounds. A second victim, believed to be the suspect’s mother, sustained injuries from a blunt object attack and is being treated at CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital in Durango. The names of the victims are being withheld as the investigation is ongoing.
The incident was reported by a motorist who was involved in a single vehicle accident shortly after 7 a.m., believed to have been caused by the suspect as he fled the residence on Snowy Peaks Way. Deputies discovered the scene when they arrived to investigate the accident.
Andrew Wittenberg has been charged with aggravated burglary, larceny of a firearm, two counts of first-degree murder, and tampering with evidence. The investigation is still ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.