Vandals destroy Adrian Maestas' Memorial

RIO RANCHO — Darcy Romero, Adrian Maestas’ mother, and her family spent Christmas Eve Dec. 24 redecorating her son’s memorial after vandals destroyed it.

Neighbors informed the Maestas’ family about the destruction to the memorial site Dec. 23, and the following day, the family cleaned up broken glass, destroyed luminarias, and scattered flowers.

KRQE 13 first reported the story Dec. 24. However, the next day, the vandals destroyed the site again, according to the family’s social media.

“No one deserves this. I have never seen this happen to anybody in my life. No memorial, that I know of has been ruined two-days in a row, but they will be caught,” Romero said on Facebook Live.

Romero said she filed a police report and is in contact with the Rio Rancho Police Department. No arrests have been made as of Dec. 26.

On Oct. 30, 15-year-old Adrian Maestas’ was shot in the head near the intersection of Inca Road and Second Street SE after a group of individuals known to one another met to resolve an ongoing dispute. He passed away from his injuries two days later.

According to the RRPD’s incident report, all individuals and vehicles associated with Maestas’ death have been identified and are under investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division. It further says that evidence is being processed in order to criminally charge the person(s) responsible for the death.

This is an ongoing story, and the Rio Rancho Observer will provide more information when it is available.