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The state of New Mexico prosecution has detailed the facts of the case against a juvenile accused of murder in its pretrial detention motion with the 13th Judicial District Court in Sandoval County.
Joshua Mora, 17, of Rio Rancho, was booked in Bernalillo County Detention Center for first-degree murder after Heather Nichole Lamb, 44, of Albuquerque, was found stabbed to death in the 1700 block of Riverside Drive in Rio Rancho.
The state's motion for pretrial detention filed April 23 details the incident.
According to the document, Sandoval Regional Emergency Communications Center received a call from a witness about a half-naked woman covered in blood. Officers note she had wounds all over her body and they attempted to save her life. EMS transported her to the hospital, where she died.
The witnesses told police they had arrived to the bosque near Riverside Drive around 9:30 p.m. April 16 and saw a small car parked there. They reported they heard screams and groans but decided to mind their business. They said they then saw a woman approach their car and bang on the glass for help. They said they saw her bleeding and called 911. During that time, the small car raced away from the scene before police arrived.
The witnesses said they asked the woman questions and tried to speak to her but she was not responding.
Police found several items at the scene with blood and semen on them. They also found tire tracks where the alleged vehicle was parked and a receipt from Jack in the Box.
Police confirmed with Lamb's family and friends that she had been using a dating service called "Skip the Games" after her divorce. They said the day she died she told them she was going on a "mission" to Rio Rancho. They tried calling her throughout the night with no response.
Video surveillance footage from Jack in the Box showed a Nissan Altima leaving at the time matching the receipt's time stamp. The receipt and vehicle license led the police to Mora. The vehicle was then spotted by surveillance cameras near NM 528 at US 550 at 10:10 p.m. and again on US 550 at about 10:12 p.m. According to Google Maps, that is about seven minutes away from the crime scene.
Officers later found the vehicle and Mora at Verizon trading in a phone. They found him again at Champion Car Wash at NM 528 and Northern Boulevard. After getting the car washed, Mora parked and began vacuuming the car and throwing items into the trash. At this point, officers arrested Mora.
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In the car, officers saw bloody napkins and seats as well as white tennis shoes with blood on them and blood in the trunk.
The state argues that the evidence and witness accounts are enough to hold Mora pretrial. No potential motive was mentioned in the document.
