The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office announced an ongoing investigation following the discovery of a body in Pajarito Mesa on May 19, 2024, at approximately 4 p.m.
Upon discovery, the body was identified as a teenage male with signs of at least one gunshot wound. BCSO detectives say they faced significant challenges in identifying the decedent until a breakthrough came when his family reported him missing. The report helped confirm the identity of the victim as 16-year-old Jesus Quintana Cota.
BCSO says identifying Jesus and notifying his family involved a thorough process, driven by the department’s commitment to accuracy and the utmost sensitivity given the age of the victim. This case is currently under investigation as a homicide, and BCSO is seeking the public’s assistance to help piece together the circumstances surrounding Jesus’s death. Anyone with information that could aid this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Carroll at (505) 263-5167 or email at ViolentCrimes@bernco.gov.