Remains found on the north side

Crime scene investigator Dectective Krissy Leekity and Crime scene investigator Dectective Emory Holl discuss the scene where dismembered remains were found on the north side. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — Police recovered the upper half of a man’s body from a field behind the 300 block of Wilson Avenue on Gallup’s north side about 6 p.m., Monday, according to McKinley County Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Albert Benally.

The official cause of death is homicide, Benally said.

He said investigators believe the dismembered body had lain there about a week. It was noticed and reported by passers-by, who could smell the corpse.

The remains were sent immediately to the Office of the Medical Investigator for autopsy, the results of which investigators received about noon Tuesday.

Police were at first uncertain about the gender of the deceased male, because the torso had been removed and the lower body has yet to be found. Benally said the man’s torso also showed multiple stab wounds.

Police know little about the man, only that he had black hair and was aged between 30 and 50.

In an effort to combine resources, McKinley County Sheriff’s Department and Gallup Police Department are conducting a joint investigation.

“It’s a major scene that we’ll all have to work together,” he said.

Crimestoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Crimestoppers in Gallup can be reached at (505) 722-6161.

Reporter Phil Stake can be reached at philip.stake@gmail.com, or by calling (505) 863-6811 x223.