⏱ 2 min read
Zebadiah Romero, 38, brutally murdered a Taos Pueblo man in October 2023, shooting him in the back of the head at his residence on the Taos Pueblo. Romero, who had been banned from the Taos Pueblo, then stole the victim’s property, including his pickup truck and dog, and concealed evidence of the crime. The motive behind the killing was reportedly revenge, as Romero believed the victim had reported his criminal activities to law enforcement. On November 4, 2023, investigators discovered the victim’s body hidden in an abandoned structure on his property.
Romero’s actions were caught on by eyewitnesses, who placed him with the victim on the morning of the murder and identified him driving the victim’s truck with the victim’s dog shortly after the killing. The United States presented extensive evidence at trial, including recorded interviews with Romero, in which he gave shifting accounts of the events.
The Office of the Medical Investigator determined that the victim died from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. Romero’s sentence of life in prison plus 120 months, with no parole in the federal system, reflects the severity of his crimes.
The investigation was led by the FBI, with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety. The case highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in solving violent crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
