Elijah Martinez, 31, was found dead in Sapello, New Mexico, on Saturday, March 28, 2026. New Mexico State Police responded around 10:39 a.m. and say evidence at the scene indicated Martinez was the victim of a homicide.

Investigators quickly identified his older brother, 33-year-old Jaime Gilbert Martinez, as the suspect. Authorities say Jaime fled to the Denver metropolitan area and was located at a residence in Lakewood, Colorado. After a prolonged standoff on Sunday, March 29, 2026, Colorado law enforcement partners took Jaime Martinez into custody. He was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence and is being held in Colorado pending extradition to New Mexico.

At the time of his death, Elijah Martinez was reportedly out on bail while awaiting trial on a 2024 murder charge. Does anyone in Sapello or the Denver area have information about the events leading up to March 28?