Jan. 8—A Rio Chiquito man has been charged with murder in a recent killing in Chimayó — marking at least three homicides in the small community in 2024.
Raymond Romero, 34, faces a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Jonathan Cordova, New Mexico State Police spokesperson Wilson Silver confirmed Wednesday.
Details about the Dec. 29 slaying were not yet available Wednesday afternoon, but state police filed the charge against Romero in Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court, online records show.
Romero was booked in the Santa Fe County jail Wednesday, jail records show.
Romero also was arrested in Española the night of the killing on an unrelated count of drug possession, and officers noted in court records he was suspected of being involved in a homicide earlier that day. Officers pulled Romero over in a McDonald’s parking lot in Española, records state, and police alleged they found cocaine in his pocket.
The homicide is at least the third killing that occurred last year in the community of about 3,000 people that sits east of Española. Chimayó straddles both Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties.
State police on Monday filed charges against another man — including second-degree murder — in a May 2024 killing in the community.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.