In the early hours of December 14, a chilling 911 call came in. “I wanted to call you, tell you that I killed my parents,” the voice on the line said. The caller was identified by authorities as 16-year-old Diego Leyva.
The call led Valencia County Sheriff’s deputies to a house on Camino Escondido in Belen, New Mexico. Bodycam footage shows Diego coming out of the house with his hands in the air. According to the police, he was visibly drunk but cooperated fully, surrendering without any trouble.
Inside the house, deputies found a tragic scene. Four people were dead, all from suspected gunshot wounds. The victims were Leonardo Leyva, 42, Adriana Bencomo, 35, Adrian Leyva, 17, and Alexander Leyva, 14. Investigators said they also found a handgun on the kitchen table.
Diego now faces serious charges: four counts of first-degree murder.
The community is heartbroken, especially those connected to Adriana Bencomo. She was a dedicated volunteer firefighter with the Rio Communities Fire Department. In a statement, her colleagues expressed their grief, saying, “Valencia County, Rio Communities, and our team at RCFD are shocked and deeply saddened by this unexpected loss.”
Under New Mexico law, things get complicated when minors are involved in such severe crimes. Because Diego is 16, he qualifies as a “serious youthful offender.” This means he could face adult charges and sentencing. However, state law prohibits life sentences without the possibility of parole for minors, even in cases like this.
The tragedy has left the tight-knit community of Belen grappling with questions and mourning the unimaginable loss of four lives. As the investigation unfolds, many are left wondering what led to such a heartbreaking event.
