Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — APD detectives solved a 2017 murder case after new interviews and new key evidence recovered from the home of one of the suspects.
Marco Martza and Daisy Ortiz, both 26, are charge with the shooting death of Jon Paul Carabajal at the Stardust Skies Park in Northeast Albuquerque. Martza was already in jail on other charges. He was booked today for the murder. Ortiz was arrested today by APD detectives.
Ortiz is accused of luring Carabajal to the park to sell her drugs on the night of April 30, 2017. Ortiz told detectives at the time that she briefly dated Carabajal prior to that night. Detectives determined that Ortiz and Martza, her boyfriend at the time, planned to rob Carabajal.
Eight minutes after sending details to meet up at the park, Carabajal, who was 19, was shot several times.
Ortiz denied meeting Carabajal or going to the park in 2017.
Detectives interviewed Ortiz again in November 2023 and admitted to setting the meet-up with Carabajal at the park to buy cocaine from him. She said she remembered being with Martza when she met up with Carabajal.
Detectives also conducted a new interview with Martza on Jan. 18, 2024 at the Metro Detention Center.
Detectives secured a search warrant for the home at 130 Rhode Island St., S.E. They recovered two handguns and cartridges. Following the search, detectives concluded that Ortiz and Martza conspired to have Carabajal go to a specific location for the purpose of taking his money and narcotics. Carabajal was shot and killed in the commission of the robbery.
Ortiz and Martza are charged with an open county of murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
