Marina Salcido
NMSP News:
ESPAÑOLA – Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, at approximately 8:09 p.m., the Española Police Department (EPD) was dispatched to 1332 Holy Cross St., in Española, for an abandoned vehicle with its lights on in the roadway.
When EPD officers arrived on scene, they located a male victim with a single gunshot wound to the chest in a black Mercedes. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
The male victim was later identified as Saul Martinez, 30, of Española.
During the initial investigation, EPD detectives learned that Martinez was shot in his vehicle at 145 El Llano Road in Española.
After the shooting, Martinez was transported in his vehicle and left on Holy Cross Street.
El Llano Road is outside of EPD’s jurisdiction.
Dec. 29, 2020 at the request of EPD and the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was requested to take over this homicide investigation.
State Police agents worked closely with the EPD and through an extensive investigation were able to identify a suspect in Martinez’s murder. Agents learned Marina Salcido, 28, of Española was with Martinez at her residence on El Llano Road minutes before his death.
Salcido was seen leaving the driveway of her residence in a black vehicle after reports of a single gunshot. That black vehicle matched the black Mercedes Martinez was found deceased in.
A short time later, Salcido was seen out of breath walking back to her residence.
Jan. 5, 2021, an arrest warrant was issued for Salcido through the First Judicial District Court for the following charges:
- First Degree Murder; and
- Tampering with Evidence (3 counts).
New Mexico State Police agents learned Salcido had traveled to Castle Rock, Colo. The Castle Rock Police Department in conjunction with the Douglas County Regional SWAT located Salcido Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at a residence in Castle Rock.
Salcido was taken into custody without incident and booked into the local detention center in Colorado where she will await extradition to New Mexico.
