West Mesa Murders: 11 Women Found Buried in New Mexico Desert

The Case at a Glance

The West Mesa murders — also known internationally as the West Mesa Bone Collector case — is an unsolved serial murder case involving the deaths of 11 women whose remains were discovered in February 2009 on West Mesa, an uninhabited desert area west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. The remains of an unborn child were found alongside the victims. All 11 victims have since been identified by Albuquerque police, but no perpetrator has ever been identified, charged, or brought to trial. The case is considered one of the most widely discussed unsolved serial murder cases in recent American criminal history.

The Discovery

On February 2, 2009, a woman walking her dog on the remote West Mesa area near 118th Street SW in Albuquerque made a disturbing find: human bone fragments protruding from the ground. Subsequent excavations carried out by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and forensic experts revealed the remains of 11 women, as well as those of an unborn child.

The 11 identified victims are:

- Monica Diana Candelaria

- Victoria Ann Chavez

- Syllannia Terene Edwards

- Doreen Marquez

- Veronica Romero

- Jamie Caterina Barela

- Evelyn Jesus Maria Salazar

- Virginia Cloven

- Julie Cyndie Nieto

- Cinnamon Elks

- Michelle Gina Valdez

Michelle Gina Valdez was pregnant at the time of her disappearance, and the remains of her unborn child were also found at the site. According to People Magazine, several of the women had at some point been connected to vulnerable communities in Albuquerque's inner city, and many had been reported missing without authorities initially linking the cases to one another.

The location itself — open, undeveloped desert land west of the city limits — presented investigators with significant challenges. Wind-blown sand, the passage of time, and animal activity considerably complicated the forensic mapping of the burial sites. The media nickname Bone Collector emerged as a popular reference to the unknown perpetrator who had systematically buried victims in this remote location.

The Investigation

Following the February 2009 discovery, the APD launched a large-scale investigation involving forensic excavation of the entire site, identification work through DNA analysis and cross-referencing with missing persons databases, and interviews with witnesses and individuals familiar with the victims' lives. The identification process was lengthy and demanding, but police ultimately succeeded in naming all 11 victims.

Despite years of investigation — which, according to A&E, has involved hundreds of interviews and the review of a substantial body of evidence — authorities have not been able to identify a perpetrator. No one has ever been charged, indicted, or brought to trial in connection with the 11 killings. The case falls under the jurisdiction of Bernalillo County, where Albuquerque is located, and continues to be investigated by the APD.

The case has attracted considerable attention from both American and international media over the years and has repeatedly been the subject of documentary productions and podcasts. That attention has kept the case in the public consciousness, but has not yet produced the decisive breakthrough investigators need.

No Trial, No Verdict

No trial has been held in connection with the West Mesa murders. No person has ever been charged, indicted, or brought before a court in the United States in connection with the killings of the 11 women. There is no verdict, no indictment, and no criminal justice outcome. The case remains entirely unsolved within the American legal system.

The Case Today

The West Mesa murders remain an active, open investigation with the Albuquerque Police Department. The APD continues to encourage the public to come forward with information and accepts tips through their official contact channels.

The families of the 11 women have over the years expressed grief, frustration, and a persistent desire for answers. For many of them, the wait for resolution has become part of a prolonged and painful grieving process. The case also serves as a reminder of the systemic challenges that can arise when victims of violence come from society's most vulnerable groups — and of the risk that missing persons reports may not always be treated with sufficient urgency.

If you have information that could help resolve this case, you are encouraged to contact the Albuquerque Police Department directly.