A recent homicide in Chimayó may be connected to a $10 debt, according to witness statements and court filings.
Witnesses told the New Mexico State Police that this whole thing could be tied to a debt Cordova owed. The police are looking into it, and it seems like this is at least the third murder in this small town this year.
Raymond Romero, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of 40-year-old Jonathan Cordova. Both guys lived in the area, with Romero in Rio Chiquito and Cordova bouncing between Vadito and Chimayó.
Cordova and his girlfriend were staying in a mobile home when he was shot near their place on December 29. The court records are sealed, but an arrest warrant shows that witnesses said Cordova owed someone close to Romero $10.
Just a day before he was shot, Cordova told his girlfriend about the debt and mentioned that if he didn’t pay, Romero might have him killed. They paid the debt, but the next day, tragedy struck.
Witnesses heard gunshots and saw Cordova running back to the mobile home, bleeding. They claimed Romero shot him and then took off in a black truck with others. Cordova was rushed to the hospital but sadly didn’t make it.
Some folks said Cordova had a troubled past, with issues related to drugs. One witness even said Cordova had stabbed him a year earlier.
There were also past incidents involving Cordova, including a call to the police about a break-in where he was involved. He had a history of running from the law, too.
After the shooting, police arrested Romero later that evening. They found cocaine on him and spotted a handgun in his car. Now, they’ve got his vehicle as evidence.
A court hearing is set for January 27 to decide if Romero will stay in jail until his trial. It’s a sad situation, and Cordova leaves behind a fiancée and a daughter. His family hasn’t commented on the matter yet.
