True Crime Friday: The West Mesa Bone Collector—An Unidentified Serial Killer

A case of life imitating art.

The bodies of eleven people including women, girls and a baby were discovered accidently by a woman walking her dog in the area, sometime in 2009, West Mesa, Albuquerque, New Mexico. There has never been an arrest, and the serial killer has not been identified to this very day. Some of the victims were sex workers and runaways which meant they were not valued by society. Their families loved them but could not get the police to open a case on their missing loved ones. And if a case was open, it lacked the resources to investigate the crime.

There have been several suspects named but no evidence was produced against the accused. The serial killer angle is believed to be an aspect but also authorities believe this was also a part of a sex trafficking ring. After receiving an anonymous tip through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hotline, the police thought they had a suspect located in El Salvador but that was to no avail.

The Early Childhood of the West Mesa Bone Collector

Since the serial killer is unidentified, we have no way of knowing what happen during his formative years that turned him into a killer. The triad seems to be animal cruelty, fire setting, and bedwetting. Serial killers generally have abusive childhoods, anti-social behavior and trauma. They are extremely impulsive, lack empathy and have an entrenched fantasy life.

The Less Dead Theory in Action

Many of the victims had been reported to authorities by their friends and loved ones but they were ignored. Families were told that the victims had simply left of their own accord or did not want to be bothered by their families. Some families were told to wait and see if they would eventually be contacted by the missing women and girls. Of course, this would never happen because the victims had been murdered. The authorities were harshly criticized by the media and the public for their inaction on these cases. The Less Dead Theory is no longer a theory it is in all actuality a proven fact.

The Victims of West Mesa Bone Collector

• Syllannia Edwards
• Michelle Valdez
• Michelle Valdez Baby
• Virginia Coven
• Evelyn Salazar
• Jamie Barela
• Monica Candelaria
• Victoria Chavez
• Cinnamon Elks
• Doreen Marquez
• Julie Nieto
• Veronica Romero

A woman walking a dog found a human bone in the West Mesa area and reported it to police on February 2, 2009. As a result of the subsequent police investigation, authorities discovered the remains of eleven women and girls. The ages were from fifteen to thirty-two years old. Most were of Hispanic origins, although there were African Americans and Whites. Eleven women were buried between the years 2001 through 2005 by a serial killer.

When the builder put up a wall to stop the flooding that is when the bodies were discovered. The media dubbed the discovery as the Bone Collector. At the time of the murders this area was undeveloped within the city limits. The police discovered satellite imagery taken between 2003 and 2005 showing tire marks near where the bodies were found. Before the residential housing area could be completed there was flooding in the area.

Lady Justice

Several suspects were interviewed regarding the murders. Police did not have any evidence to connect any of the suspects to the murders. Unfortunately, since the police did not take the requests of the families seriously when they first report their children missing the West Mesa Bone Collector was able to kill twelve people. The killer was never caught and so the victims and their families will probably never see justice.

References

• West Mesa Homicide Investigation
• A Bone Jutting from a Dusty Trail Led to a Horrifying Find — and the Hunt for 'Bone Collector' Serial Killer
• Will the West Mesa Serial Killer Ever Be Identified?
• Wikipedia - West Mesa Murders