Teenager accused of killing family members

RIO GRANDE ESTATES — “Hi miss, I just wanted to call you and tell you I killed my parents.”

That shocking statement was the beginning of a 911 call to a Valencia Regional Emergency Communications Center dispatcher that sent emergency responders rushing to a home on Camino Escondido, southwest of the city of Rio Communities in Rio Grande Estates. The caller was 16-year-old Diego Leyva.

He is being held at the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque and, according to information released by New Mexico State Police, has been charged with four open counts of first-degree murder in relation to the deaths of his family members.

When the dispatcher asks him to clarify his initial statement, Leyva repeats he killed his parents, adding “my whole family.”

The call came in just before 3:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14. When deputies arrived at the home about 25 minutes later, they found Leyva outside and his family dead inside.

His parents, father, Leonardo Leyva, 42, and mother, Adriana Bencomo, 35; and brothers, Adrian Leyva, 17, and Alexander Leyva, 14, all sustained suspected gunshot wounds, according to information from NMSP. A handgun was found on the kitchen table.

During the 911 call, Leyva told the dispatcher he shot his parents and brothers in the head. The dispatcher asked him what happened, if he’d ever felt like hurting his family before. Leyva said he’d never felt the urge to hurt them.

“Something bad possessed me. I don’t know it just happened. I just felt possessed,” Leyva said on the recording.

When deputies arrived at the home, another person was found in addition to Leyva, a 63-year-old man with lacerations on his face. NMSP public information officer Officer Ray Wilson said the man was the boys’ grandfather.

“He was asleep in a dwelling behind the residence during the incident,” Wilson said. “He was initially detained, then released. Investigators do not know where those lacerations came from.”

On Monday, Dec. 16, 13th Judicial District Court Judge Cindy Mercer ordered Diego Leyva held at the juvenile detention facility in Albuquerque.

Jessica Martinez, chief deputy district attorney for the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, said the DA’s office has filed a petition of intent to seek adult sanctions against Leyva.

“Generally, juvenile procedures are closed to the public. The petition of intent is being filed and within 10 days, there will be a hearing to determine probable cause,” Martinez said. “If that is found, then this case will be subject to the adult process and open to the public.”

If the judge grants the petition, a criminal complaint and other documents will be made public at that time, she said. Martinez said the public could expect more information about the status of the case after Dec. 30.

The 911 call on Dec. 14 from the Leyva home was the second that week. Leonardo Leyva called dispatch shortly after 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, saying his son, Diego, was taking drugs and needed to be taken to the hospital. He told the dispatcher he thought Diego was using marijuana.

In the background of the 911 call, shouting can be heard, with Diego saying he was “not even (explicative) high, not on (explicative) drugs, not on (explicative) anything.”

Leonardo told the dispatcher his other two sons were at their grandparents’ house and Diego wanted to leave.

“He’s been having issues ... almost got kicked out of school ... I’m having a really hard time with him,” Leonardo told the dispatcher. When asked if Diego had any weapons, his father said he did not.

Eventually, Diego’s grandfather arrived and the boy left with him.