Transient arrested in woman's rape and murder 

Transient arrested in woman's rape and murder

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Authorities have arrested a drifter in the rape and strangulation death of a 70-year-old Albuquerque woman.

Arturo Alvarado, 31, was taken into custody Friday at a Deming homeless shelter. He faces charges of murder, kidnapping and criminal sexual penetration in the May 1 death of Mary Ellen Padilla.

The woman lived in an apartment complex near a vacant lot where her body was found. Authorities said they weren't sure how Padilla was lured from her home.

Family members became concerned when they found Padilla's door unlocked. They searched the area and found her body shortly after midnight. Her pants were wrapped around her neck and her other clothes tossed near her body.

Authorities said DNA found at the scene matched Alvarado's, which was in the New Mexico DNA Identification System.

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Detective Lawrence Tafoya said Alvarado admitted killing Padilla but declined to give more details.


A criminal complaint stated that a homeless man offered clues when authorities interviewed him. He told investigators that he, Alvarado and another man had been "hustling" for money at Padilla's complex.

The man said he saw Alvarado and the other man walk away before he passed out around 7 p.m. the night of Padilla's death.

The director of the shelter where the men had been staying told investigators that Alvarado had blood on him that night and that he threw Alvarado out.

Alvarado's attorney, Jeff Liley of Las Cruces, contacted investigators May 10, saying he had heard they were looking for his client. Detectives then asked Liley to set up an interview with Alvarado.

Alvarado's criminal record includes domestic violence and drunken driving.

"We want him to go to death row, no doubt," said Padilla's daughter, Beatrice Padilla. "Everybody's curious. We want answers, and we want justice."

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