September 26, 2019
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Friends and Family of a young woman who was murdered will be protesting Friday outside District Court in Santa Fe.
The case against Selena Valencia suspected killer, Christopher Garcia, could be thrown out because the Santa Fe Police Department lost several pieces of evidence.
"It's pretty emotional and it's stressful," said Selena's mother, Josie Noriega.
Selena's boyfriend at the time is charged with her murder. However, next month's trial is now in jeopardy.
The evidence the police department lost includes hair and fingernail clippings.
"It was just upsetting," Noriega said. "His attorney wanted to dismiss charges for lost evidence."
Garcia's defense lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the case, writing the "state's destruction of material evidence violates the defendant's constitutional right to due process and fair trial."
Prosecutors responded with their own motion, arguing the missing evidence is "… (a) not important to the outcome of this case, and (b) the weight of the other evidence clearly establishes defendant's guilt."
Noriega wants the police department to be held accountable.
"Who's responsible for this?" Noriega asked. "Somebody has to be held reliable for this."
KOB 4 reached out to the Santa Fe Police Department for comment, but did not get a response.
A St. Louis County jury found 54-year-old Michael Allen Carbo, Jr. guilty in the rape and murder of Nancy Daugherty 36 years ago. August 18, 2022 DULUTH, Minn. — Editor's note: The video above first a...
Where Do We Put Them? August 18, 2022 A business compliance operation conducted at 19 automotive businesses within the City of Perris resulted in the recovery of 448 catalytic converters and 15 c...
A CNN survey in 2018 found that police at dozens of agencies nationwide had trashed 400 rape kits in cases that could have been prosecuted. August 11, 2022 WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. — Gretchen Van Win...