Background: The site in New Mexico where the remains of Mestre’s mother, father, and sister were discovered in a ravine (KOB). Inset: Adlai Mestre (Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office).
A man who purportedly confessed to the murder of his parents, his sister, and the family’s dog last year has been charged by a grand jury for these shocking crimes.
Adlai Mestre, age 24, is facing charges including three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of evidence tampering, and one count of animal cruelty, as announced by Bernalillo County, New Mexico, District Attorney Sam Bregman on Thursday.
On Oct. 13, 2024, investigators believe the defendant shot his three family members – 51-year-old Bertha Mestre, his mother, 46-year-old Raymundo Mestre, his father, and 17-year-old Brielle Mestre, his sister – and the dog multiple times.
“The victims were also likely bludgeoned with a meat tenderizer,” Bregman announced five days later.
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Body camera footage from Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies showcases the startling moments when they arrived at the home in Tijeras, about 15 miles east of Albuquerque.
“Sheriff’s office,” a deputy announces before seeing someone approach the front door, per Albuquerque-based ABC affiliate KOAT. “How are you doing, sir?”
“My family rushed me,” a man said to be Adlai Mestre says right away.
“Rushed you where?” the deputy asks.
“In my room.”
“What do you mean?”
“With a knife,” the suspect responds.
The video jumps forward and the deputy says, “What are you talking about, dude? Do you have any weapons on you right now?”
“Yeah, I do,” the suspect responds while approaching the deputy and reaching into his pocket before being stopped and summarily then handcuffed. He is believed to have had a handgun with a loaded magazine on him.
“I killed them,” he says later in the footage. “However, I found their bodies and their wounds were healed. You want me to show you?”
Investigators told the outlet that Adlai Mestre used his mother’s legally-registered handgun in the shooting.
“Please don’t kill me officer,” the suspect says later. He then told law enforcement where the bodies of his family members were.
Once at a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office substation, the suspect kicked a hole in the wall of the room in which he was being detained. He could be seen trying to escape – to no avail.
The residence’s landlord called 911 on the afternoon of that fateful day after hearing gunshots, Law&Crime previously reported. The landlord said he knew the family and tried to contact them, but received no response.
While inside the family’s home, deputies saw blood transfer patterns consistent with drag marks and “mopping/cleaning,” court documents said. Deputies also allegedly found a bloody knife and a meat tenderizer near the front door.
Adlai Mestre wrote notes on a police officer’s tablet at the police station about times of “seismic waves” and how he shot at cell towers and had thermal imaging on his house, authorities claim.
The suspect is believed to have killed his father in the family’s living room and then his mother as she came down the stairs. It is unclear when he allegedly killed his sister. He is said to have called the dog “ravenous” when allegedly discussing his reasoning for killing the animal.
Authorities believe the defendant dragged the bodies outside and then tried to mop up inside when responding deputies interrupted him.
The suspect reportedly had blood on his hands, shirt, and shoes when law enforcement first arrived. He was also allegedly carrying a gun and a magazine loaded with ammunition.
“I killed them and was going to bury them,” Adlai Mestre allegedly confessed on the spot, according to court documents obtained by The Sacramento Bee.
One deputy at one point asked: “What did you have to do?” in documents obtained by Albuquerque-based NBC affiliate KOB.
To which Mestre allegedly responded: “Kill.”
