Alek Isaiah Collins : “Warrant Reveals NM Suspect Discovery in Killings”

A receipt from a pound shop, data from a mobile phone tower, and fragments of a damaged wing mirror played crucial roles in the swift identification of a suspect in a shooting incident that resulted in the tragic deaths of two women and left a toddler seriously injured at a park in Clovis, New Mexico. Additionally, these pieces of evidence helped in the rescue of an abducted infant.

The suspect, 26-year-old Alek Isaiah Collins, is facing charges of two counts of murder, two counts of child abuse, and one count of kidnapping. The arrest warrant and criminal complaint filed against Collins detail the meticulous investigation carried out by multiple law enforcement agencies to locate the missing 10-month-old baby girl.

The incident unfolded when Clovis police officers responded to a distressing scene at Ned Houk Park, where they discovered Samantha Cisneros, 23, and Taryn Allen, 23, both from Texico, N.M., with gunshot wounds near a silver Dodge minivan. A young girl, who had sustained a head injury, was also found at the scene and later transported to a hospital in Lubbock.

During the initial investigation, officers found baby items near the minivan, leading them to suspect the presence of an infant during the shooting. Interviews with family members revealed that Cisneros was the mother of the missing infant, prompting the issuance of an Amber Alert.

An alert was issued stating that the infant’s abductor may be driving a red- or maroon-colored Honda. Notably, a damaged stroller with a streak of red or maroon paint was among the items found at the scene.

Further evidence collected at the scene included five 9mm shell casings and parts of a side-view mirror believed to belong to a Honda vehicle. Investigators also recovered a Dollar Tree receipt from the Dodge minivan, indicating the group’s presence at the store two hours prior to the incident.

Analysis of the victims’ mobile phones revealed their presence at the park around 3 p.m., corroborating witness accounts of gunshots heard earlier in the day. The investigation extended to data from a cell phone tower, which linked a phone number associated with Collins to the park at the time of the shooting.

Surveillance footage from a nearby McDonald’s drive-thru captured a maroon Honda sedan with a missing side-view mirror cover, leading investigators to discover that Collins had rented the vehicle and was in possession of it at the time of the incident.

Collins was apprehended at a residence in Abilene, where officers observed him pushing the maroon Honda with damaged mirrors out of a garage. The abducted infant was safely recovered and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Despite the recovery of a 9mm pistol at the scene, it remains unconfirmed whether the weapon was used in the shooting. During police interrogation, Collins reportedly admitted to taking the child but denied involvement in the shootings.

Authorities stated that there appears to be no direct connection between Collins and the deceased women. It was revealed that Collins had previously contacted the FBI seeking help to locate his missing daughter, expressing frustration with the lack of assistance.

The Ninth District Attorney’s Office intends to file a motion for Collins’ extradition to New Mexico to face the charges against him. Collins is scheduled to appear in a U.S. magistrate court for an initial hearing to establish his identity and address the pending allegations.