A woman’s cause of death could not immediately be determined when her body was found Jan. 20 on El Llano Road and North Riverside Drive, but investigators suspected she froze to death.
Española City Police Officer Dustin Chavez was dispatched to the area because people walking in the area found a woman’s body. He noted in his incident report that several Ohkay Owingeh tribal officers arrived on scene before he got there.
“Once on scene, I spoke with Tribal Lt. Jace Trujillo who states a female (unknown name) was found by several individuals walking in the area,” Chavez wrote. “Lt. Jace, advised the individuals left the area and it appears the female froze to death.”
Sgt. Cody Martinez identified the woman, the report said, however her name was redacted because her next of kin had not yet been notified. However, Chief Mizel Garcia said on Jan. 23, the woman was identified as Tamatha Roybal, aka Tammy Roybal, of Española.
When Roybal’s body was found, Chavez wrote that she had belongings nearby in a bag with her name written on it. The Office of the Medical Investigator was called after the officers confirmed that Roybal was cold to the touch and not breathing. She was in a fetal position, holding a lighter and a red plastic straw in her right hand, while on the floor in a small outhouse, the report said.
Lynne Gudes of the OMI arrived at 1:14 p.m. and pronounced Roybal’s death at 1:20 p.m. The woman was picked up by Rivera Funeral Home at 2:25 p.m., the report said. No further information was available on Roybal’s death.