LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Today, District Attorney Mark D’Antonio announced that a grand jury has indicted four suspects connected to the brutal slaying of a 20-year-old Las Cruces man.
Damika Childs, 19, Adrian Banda, 24, Alejandro Ruiz, 22, and Gregory Saaverda, 33, were each charged with a laundry list of crimes including first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated arson.
According to investigators, they were responding to a burning vehicle when they discovered the body of 20-year-old Johnny Ramirez inside the trunk of the car.
Meanwhile, the defendants are also accused of kidnapping a second victim and attempting to kill her. Investigators with New Mexico State Police said this victim was duct-taped to the steering wheel of the burning car and stabbed in the neck. However, she managed to escape was airlifted to a hospital in El Paso.
In New Mexico, the maximum punishment for first-degree murder is life in prison. However, that sentence may be enhanced to life without parole if there’s aggravating circumstances.
Additionally, all defendants are being held in the Doña Ana County Detention without bond.
Information from Third Judicial District Attorney's Office