SON CHARGED FOR 3 MURDERS OF HIS PARENTS AND SISTER IN THE FIRST DEGREE

On October 13, 2024, a horrific tragedy unfolded in Tijeras, New Mexico, when 24-year-old Adlai Mestre allegedly shot and killed his mother, Bertha Huerta Conde (51), his father, Raymundo Mestre (46), his 17-year-old sister, Brielle Mestre, and the family dog at their home on Young Road. Mestre now faces three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of tampering with evidence, one count of animal cruelty, and additional charges related to his attempted escape from custody and criminal damage to property. The case has shocked the community and raised questions about mental health, firearm access, and the legal system's handling of such cases.

The Incident and Arrest

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a 911 call at 2:14 p.m. on October 13, 2024, after a neighbor, the family’s landlord, reported hearing gunshots from the Mestre residence. The neighbor attempted to contact the family by texting and honking his car horn but received no response. Upon arrival, deputies found Adlai Mestre outside the home, covered in blood and holding a loaded handgun registered to his mother, along with an additional magazine of ammunition.

Mestre allegedly confessed to deputies, stating, “I killed them and was going to bury them,” and claimed his family had attacked him, with his father wielding a knife and his sister a sledgehammer. He admitted to shooting his father in the living room, his mother on the stairs, and the family dog, which he described as “ravenous.” Deputies discovered the bodies of Raymundo, Bertha, and Brielle in a ravine approximately 50 yards from the home, with evidence of drag marks and blood stains consistent with Mestre’s attempt to move and bury the bodies. Inside the home, investigators found blood-soaked cleaning supplies, a knife, and a meat tenderizer hammer, suggesting Mestre attempted to clean the crime scene before deputies arrived.

During his detention at the BCSO facility, Mestre’s behavior escalated further. While left unattended in an interrogation room, he punched and kicked a hole in the wall, briefly escaping before being apprehended by detectives. This incident led to additional charges of escape from custody and criminal damage to property.

Legal Proceedings and Mental Health Concerns

Mestre’s case has been marked by significant legal and mental health complexities. On April 9, 2025, a judge initially deemed Mestre incompetent to stand trial, ordering his transfer to the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas for treatment. By June 2025, however, he was found competent to proceed. On July 10, 2025, a grand jury indicted Mestre on three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of tampering with evidence, and one count of animal cruelty, as announced by Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman.

Court documents and statements from Mestre during his arrest reveal a history of mental health issues. Approximately a year before the killings, Mestre received treatment at Haven Behavioral Hospital of Albuquerque. Family members reported that he had stopped taking prescribed medication in the months leading up to the incident and was experiencing auditory hallucinations, claiming to hear voices and “seismic waves.” His older sister, who was not present during the killings, confirmed she had urged him to resume his medication. Despite his hospitalization, Mestre exhibited no homicidal or suicidal ideations at the time, according to medical records cited by authorities.

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen emphasized the role of mental health in the tragedy, noting that Mestre’s prior hospitalization could have prompted closer monitoring if authorities had been notified. Allen referenced New Mexico’s “red flag” gun laws, suggesting that such measures might have restricted Mestre’s access to his mother’s firearm, potentially preventing the tragedy. “If someone in your family might be having a mental health crisis, it’s not a good time to have a firearm in the home,” said Miranda Viscoli, a local advocate, during a press conference.

Community Impact and Remembrance

The Tijeras community remains in mourning, grappling with the loss of a family described as close-knit. Brielle Mestre, the 17-year-old victim, was remembered for her “inclusion, leadership, and kindness.” In her honor, the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation established the Brielle Mestre Memorial Scholarship Fund to support children who embody her values.

Mestre’s courtroom outbursts, including a request for the media to release photos of the victims’ bodies to support his claims of their “healed and blackened” wounds, have further complicated public perception of the case. His attorney argued for release under supervision with proper medication, but a judge ruled that Mestre poses a danger to the community and ordered him held at the Metropolitan Detention Center pending trial.

Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications

As Mestre awaits trial, the investigation continues to explore his motives, which remain unclear. Sheriff Allen compared the case to the 2013 Nehemiah Griego killings, another family annihilation in New Mexico, underscoring the need for improved mental health interventions and firearm regulations. The case has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of New Mexico’s Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Orders and the challenges of balancing mental health treatment with public safety.

Adlai Mestre’s trial will likely focus on his mental state at the time of the killings, the circumstances leading to the tragedy, and the broader systemic issues surrounding mental health and gun access. For now, the Tijeras community and the Mestre family’s loved ones seek justice and healing in the wake of an unimaginable loss.

Sources: Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, KRQE News, Miami Herald, KOAT, Yahoo News, True Crime Avenue, People.com, AOL, Law&Crime, Medium, Reddit, and Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office.