Albuquerque attorney found dead at Elephant Butte lake

New Mexico State Police and the state Parks Division are investigating the death of Wade Jackson, an Albuquerque attorney and former agency general counsel in the administration of Gov. Susana Martinez, whose body was recovered at Elephant Butte Lake State Park.

Wendy Mason, a Parks Division spokeswoman, told the Journal in a statement that the evening of June 18, park rangers were notified that Jackson, 47, had gone fishing on his boat and had not returned to the boat access area for pickup.

“Park visitors found a vessel near McCray Canyon and reported it to park officials,“ Mason said.

A search by park rangers, with support of the Sierra County Sheriff‘s Office and State Police, continued until Thursday, according to the statement. A park visitor reported finding a body located near Long Point, which is at the north end of the lake. The body matched Jackson‘s description.

Jackson, who was a shareholder and member of the Sutin, Thayer and Browne law firm, was married to Courtney Jackson, a member of the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education.

According to the firm‘s website, Jackson served for five years as general counsel and legislative coordinator for the New Mexico Economic Development Department. During that time, he also served on the board of directors for the New Mexico Finance Authority and chaired its economic development committee.

He served as general counsel for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, was counsel to the Water Control Commission and represented Gov. Martinez in the New Mexico Supreme Court. Martinez served as governor from 2011 to 2019.

The law firm‘s website states he helped lead the 2013 tax reform effort in New Mexico, testifying before numerous legislative committees and meetings with legislators of both parties. He helped negotiate the 2015 Tribal-State Gaming Compacts with five tribes.

Jackson also had served as president of the conservative-leaning Federalist Society of New Mexico.

Mason on Monday declined to provide details about the investigation and said results from an autopsy by the state Office of the Medical Investigator are pending.