Robert J. Romero, 52, was fatally shot in his Santa Fe backyard around 2 a.m. on July 30, 2018. The shooting followed a confrontation in the backyard that was initially investigated as an apparent attempted burglary. Romero was a husband and father.

Investigators advanced the case using genetic genealogy, comparing DNA from the scene to voluntary genetic databases. That work narrowed suspects to three related individuals in Santa Fe and led to the identification of 26-year-old Joseph Jones, who had a prior history of property crimes including stealing firearms. Jones was arrested on May 14 and charged with murder, tampering with evidence, attempt to commit a felony, aggravated burglary, and residential burglary. The department paid about $7,405 for the DNA analysis, which took roughly two months to produce initial results.

Some aspects of the case, including motive, remained unclear to investigators at the time. If anyone knew Robert Romero, his movements that night, or has information about the events in that backyard, please share what is known.