Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
ALBUQUERQUE – A Houston man was charged by criminal complaint with interstate kidnapping of a child in connection with the double-murder of the girl’s mother and another woman in Clovis, New Mexico.
Alek Isaiah Collins, 26, appeared before a federal judge in Abilene, Texas this morning on charges contained in a federal criminal complaint filed in New Mexico. Collins was detained and will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending his transfer to New Mexico for further proceedings.
According to the criminal complaint, on May 3, 2024, the bodies of two deceased adult females, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, were discovered at Ned Houk Memorial Park in Clovis, New Mexico. Jane Doe 2’s 5-year-old daughter, Minor 1, was also found wounded at the scene and transported to the hospital for treatment.
Jane Doe 2’s 10-month-old daughter, Minor 2, was missing from the scene. Surveillance footage showed Minor 2 with her mother at a nearby Dollar General store just prior to the incident. Law enforcement issued an AMBER Alert for Minor 2.
Law enforcement recovered evidence at the scene, including 9mm handgun casings and a vehicle sideview mirror cover, indicating potential involvement of a maroon Honda. Witness accounts indicated a maroon/red colored sedan was at the park around the time of the incident.
Further investigation revealed that the maroon Honda with Texas license plate TTK3358 was rented by Collins through HyreCar, a peer-to-peer carsharing marketplace. GPS data from the vehicle showed it near the park around the estimated time of the double homicide.
Cell phone records and law enforcement searches linked Collins to a phone which was in the vicinity of the park during the incident. The vehicle was later located at a residence in Abilene, Texas, where it had been remotely disabled by the owner after Collins failed to return the rental on time.
While preparing to execute a search warrant at a residence, officers observed an Uber driver operating a Cadillac SUV arrive on the street. Collins exited the residence carrying Minor 2 and placed the child in the rear passenger seat of the SUV. Collins then proceeded to carjack the Uber driver at gunpoint, forcing the driver to exit the vehicle before driving away with the child.
Abilene Police Department’s Narcotics Unit immediately pursued the Cadillac and were able to pin the vehicle, bringing it to a stop. Collins was promptly arrested and Minor 2 was recovered safely from the vehicle.
Collins has no relation to Minor 2 and does not have legal custody of the child.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, Clovis Police Department, Abilene Texas Police Department Narcotics Unit, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, Roswell Police Department, Portales Police Department, the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI Amarillo Resident Agency and FBI Abilene Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Jaymie L. Roybal and Joseph Spindle are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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