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Journal North: Home | Sports | Opinion | Obits | Entertainment
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Police Have Suspect in Fatal Stabbing, Body Burning
By Vic Vela
Journal Staff Writer
A Mora County man was recently stabbed to death and set on fire inside his Buena Vista Ranch home. The suspected killer is in custody, according to State Police.
Michael Strand, 22, was arrested near Mora Wednesday after sheriff's deputies found him driving the SUV belonging to Roberto Mendez, who was found dead inside his home Monday, according to State Police Capt. Robert Shilling.
Mendez, 59, was last seen alive Saturday evening. When authorities found him inside his home two days later, he appeared to have been stabbed and his body was partially burned.
“Preliminary information shows some sort of flammable liquid appears to have been poured on him,” Shilling said.
Mendez lived inside a casita on the ranch. Strand also is believed to be from the Mora area.
State Police agents learned after finding Mendez's body that his black 1997 Ford Expedition was missing, and Strand was arrested Wednesday morning after he was found driving that vehicle in the area, Shilling said.
At this point in the investigation, Strand is only being labeled as a suspect in Mendez's slaying and is not being held in connection with his death.
For now, Strand is being held at the Mora County jail, where he was booked on charges of conspiracy, tampering with evidence and possession of a stolen vehicle.
“But I think there's more to come on this,” Shilling said. “The investigation will continue and we will get together with the district attorney's office (today) to talk about other charges.”
According to online court records, Strand's criminal history includes a 2006 conviction out of Las Vegas Magistrate Court for battery against a household member. He was charged with assault against a household member in July 2007, but those charges were dismissed.
In March, Strand was arrested for another domestic violence charge — this time for aggravated battery against a household member — but that case has yet to make its way through the court system.
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