24-Year-Old Indicted for Murdering Entire Family in Horror Case

A 24-year-old New Mexico man has been indicted for the brutal murder of his parents, teenage sister, and the family dog in a horrific shooting that rocked their quiet Tijeras neighborhood.

On Thursday, July 10, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced that a grand jury indicted Adlai Mestre for the October 13, 2024 slayings of his mother, Bertha Huerta Conde, his father, Raymundo Mestre, his 17-year-old sister, Brielle, and the family dog.

Authorities say Mestre not only shot and killed his family inside their home, but also dragged their bodies outside in an apparent attempt to bury them. He allegedly tried to clean up the crime scene before police arrived.

He now faces three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of evidence tampering, and one count of animal cruelty.

According to court documents, police responded to a 911 call about gunshots coming from the residence. A concerned caller said they had tried contacting the family but received no response.

When deputies arrived, they encountered Mestre outside the home with a gun and a loaded magazine. Body cam footage reportedly shows him calmly telling officers, “My family’s trying to walk in my room, trying to hit my heart… my dad had a knife, and my sister had a sledgehammer and I killed them… however, I found their bodies and their wounds were healed.”

Deputies searched the property and found a blood-smeared hammer, a meat tenderizer, and drag marks throughout the home. The bodies of his family members were discovered in a ravine near the house.

Investigators also say Mestre attempted to escape detention by kicking a hole in the wall of the room he was being held in—but failed.

Initially ruled incompetent to stand trial, Mestre was later found competent in June. His case is now moving forward as he faces the possibility of life behind bars for what prosecutors describe as one of the most disturbing family murders in recent memory.