The West Mesa Murders

The West Mesa Murders:
00:00 - Intro
03:16 - The Forgotten Women
07:43 - The Investigation Begins
11:01 - The Suspects
15:37 -The Aftermath

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On a quiet February morning in 2009, a woman walking her dog in Albuquerque’s West Mesa made a discovery that would shock the city and unearth one of the most disturbing crime scenes in New Mexico history. Buried beneath the desert were the remains of eleven women and an unborn child—victims of a serial killer who had hidden in plain sight for years.

Most of the women had been reported missing between 2001 and 2005, many involved in sex work and struggling with addiction. Their cases were largely ignored—until the desert gave up its secrets.

In this episode of Southern Crimes, we trace the story from the chilling discovery to the sprawling investigation, and examine the suspects who have emerged—including convicted rapist Joseph Blea and the violent, now-deceased Lorenzo Montoya. Despite years of leads and over 1,500 tips, no one has ever been charged.

The West Mesa murders remain one of the Southwest’s most haunting unsolved mysteries—a case that raised urgent questions about justice, institutional failure, and whose lives are valued.

If you have any information, contact the Albuquerque Police Department at *505-768-2450* or Crime Stoppers at **505-843-STOP**.

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