Teen calls 911 to say he killed his family, New Mexico cops say. 4 found dead in home

Deputies found four people dead inside a New Mexico home after authorities said a 16-year-old boy called 911 and said he killed his family.

The boy, who McClatchy News is not identifying due to his age, came out of the Belen home with his hands in the air when deputies with the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office arrived, State Police said in a Dec. 14 news release.

He was “extremely intoxicated” and was taken into custody without any struggle, according to State Police.

Inside the home, deputies found four bodies and a pistol on the kitchen table, police said.

“The Office of the Medical Investigator is still working to identify the victims,” police said.

The teen was taken to a hospital for detox and is charged with four counts of murder, police said. He will be booked into a juvenile detention facility once he’s released from the hospital.

“New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents and Crime Scene Team are processing the scene and conducting interviews to learn what led up to these tragic events,” police said. “Once more information is learned and the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.”

Belen has a population of about 7,000 people and is a roughly 30-mile drive south from Albuquerque.

This story was originally published December 15, 2024 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Teen calls 911 to say he killed his family, New Mexico cops say. 4 found dead in home."