Man found dead in November in Rio Communities home

RIO COMMUNITIES — Local law enforcement is investigating the suspicious death of an unknown man in Rio Communities.

Valencia County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Joseph Rowland said deputies performed a welfare check at a home on the 1700 block of Jack Nickalous Drive on Saturday, Nov. 9.

“A concerned citizen called for a welfare check and, when deputies arrived, they found a deceased White male in his mid 60s inside the home,” Rowland said.

Members of VCSO’s criminal investigation division were dispatched to the home, and detectives asked for assistance from the New Mexico State Police crime scene unit, the lieutenant said.

“We initiated a homicide investigation because preliminary results indicated the man died from a gunshot wound,” he said. “This is a suspicious death and we’re investigating it as a homicide, pending analysis by the (Office of the Medical Investigator).”

Rowland said OMI has not made a formal identification of the man, so next of kin have not been notified.

“We don’t have anything from OMI at this time — an ID, manner of death or how long he was dead,” he said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact VCSO Detective Kadin Shain at 505-866-3345.