The autopsy report on a man who was stabbed to death on New Year’s Day north of Las Cruces has been received by Doña Ana County Sheriff’s investigators. The case into Sal Garces’ death remains open while key pieces of evidence remain under examination.
Garces, 25, was with his brother and two other men when they allegedly forced their way into a home in the 600 block of King James Avenue, near Doña Ana Road, in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 2014. The group reportedly had an unresolved issue with Joe Torrez, the man living at that address, which stemmed from an earlier altercation on New Year’s Eve in the Las Cruces city limits.
An altercation ensued between Garces and Torrez. When Doña Ana County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the address, they found Garces lying in the road, reportedly suffering from injuries he sustained during the fight.
The report released by the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner indicates Garces suffered four stab wounds to the chest, which injured his heart and left lung. The report also says Garces received one cut to his neck, five cuts to the head, and one on his left arm.
A toxicology report indicated Garces had a blood alcohol level of 0.126.
The report depicts Garces’ wounds as “consistent with injury from a serrated knife.”
Investigators collected a serrated knife from the crime scene, which was sent for DNA and fingerprint analysis to the Department of Public Safety Forensic Crime Lab in Santa Fe. The results of that analysis – and other pieces of evidence that were also collected at the scene – have still not been returned to the sheriff’s office.
According to investigators, a determination or recommendation on whether to pursue charges in this case cannot be made to the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office until all evidence is processed.
Since the incident, five people have been arrested in connection with the alleged invasion. Raymond Garces, 19, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and criminal damage to property.
Leonard Calvillo, 23, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and criminal damage to property.
Nathan Avalos, 20, was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property.
Investigators say all three men were accompanied by two women, Cylver Pearl Betancourt, 18, and Rachel Carrillo, 20.
Both Betancourt and Carrillo were also arrested on charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, and one count each of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.
Information from: Dona Ana County