The Murder of the Leyva Family

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2024, the Valencia County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from 17-year-old Diego Leyva. He told the dispatcher he had killed his parents, then added that he had killed his entire family. When deputies arrived at the home on Camino Escondido in Rio Grande Estates, Diego walked out of the gate with his hands in the air. He was covered in blood and extremely intoxicated. Deputies took him into custody without incident and called in the New Mexico State Police to take over the investigation.

Inside the home, officers found Leonardo Leyva, Adriana Bencomo, Adrian Leyva, and Alexander Leyva, all deceased from gunshot wounds to the head. A handgun was located on the kitchen table. Investigators later determined the firearm had been purchased by Diego's father, Leonardo. Diego was transported to an area hospital for detoxification. The following day, after sobering up, he told investigators that a voice had told him to kill his family.

Diego was medically cleared and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque at approximately 1:00 a.m. on December 15. A judge held a first appearance on Monday, December 16, and ruled that Diego posed a danger to himself and others, ordering him held in detention pending trial. On December 30, a Valencia County grand jury indicted him on four open counts of first-degree murder.

When Valencia County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the residence, Diego opened the gate and complied without incident. He was covered in blood and extremely intoxicated. Body camera footage released by the Valencia County Sheriff's Office showed deputies rushing into the home, calling for anyone to make themselves known, and discovering the bodies one by one. All four victims had sustained gunshot wounds to the head. A handgun was found on the kitchen table. Investigators later determined that the firearm had been legally purchased by Diego's father, Leonardo.

The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was requested to lead the homicide investigation at the scene. Diego was transported to an area hospital for detoxification and was medically cleared before being booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque. The day after his arrest, once sober, he told agents that a voice had told him to kill his family. The details of what occurred in the home before the shooting were not publicly disclosed.

A judge at Diego's first appearance on December 16 ruled that he posed a danger to himself and others and ordered him held in detention. The Belen Schools Superintendent confirmed Diego attended Belen High School and that Alexander attended Belen Middle School, and that the district provided additional counseling services to both schools. On December 30, a Valencia County grand jury indicted Diego on four open counts of first-degree murder.

Leonardo Leyva was 42 years old. He provided for his family and legally owned the firearm found at the scene, a detail that speaks to nothing except the ordinary life he was living. Adriana Bencomo was 35. She spent her free time volunteering with the Rio Communities Fire Department, giving her time to protect the community she called home. Her colleagues described her as active and dedicated.

Adrian Leyva was 17. Alexander Leyva was 14. They were students. Adrian attended Belen High School. Alexander attended Belen Middle School. They were brothers, sons, and members of a community that mourned their loss. Their schools provided counseling in the days that followed, a small acknowledgment of the grief left behind.

Four lives ended in the same home, in the same night, for reasons that a court is still working to understand. Whatever the courts ultimately determine about competency and culpability, Leonardo, Adriana, Adrian, and Alexander deserve to be remembered as they lived, not only as they died. They are not forgotten.