Jessie Romero, whose Truchas home overlooks his son’s burned-out trailer, said he wants his son to turn himself in.
That would end the manhunt for murder suspect Jody Romero that’s entering its third week, as well as the threatening rumors the father said he’s been hearing. But Jessie Romero said he doubts it will happen.
“I think he’s dead,” Jessie Romero said. “Maybe someone killed him, too. I haven’t seen him. I haven’t heard from him. Nothing.”
Jody Romero is accused of the April 3 murders of Amanda Romero, 24, of Cordova, and Delfino DeFernandez, 31, of Truchas, court records state. The State Road 76 trailer where he lived, the scene of both alleged murders, was gutted by fire in the early morning hours of April 13, according to Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Lt. Adam Archuleta.
Archuleta said the fire is a suspected arson and is being investigated by the state Fire Marshal’s Office. Sgt. Orlando Cordova said the fire appeared to have started inside the home and said someone used gas at the front door, according to 911 dispatch logs. Office investigator Dan Wright refused to comment for this story.
Cordova and Sheriff Tommy Rodella did not return several calls for comment.
The home was reported as fully engulfed in flames around 1:18 a.m., dispatch logs state.
Max Cordova, who owns the Los Siete Gallery next door to Jody Romero’s trailer, said he came outside at about 1:20 a.m. and saw the flames “leaping” about 15 feet from the roof.
“It went quick,” he said. “It was too fast.”
By about 2 a.m., Orlando Cordova told dispatchers he was checking the house for bodies, but could find no one who needed an ambulance.
Archuleta said he did not know who could have burned the home, but said there could be many reasons for someone trying to burn a murder scene, such as retaliation, trying to cover up evidence or trying to keep deputies away from the scene of the crime.
“There are so many motives it’s hard to say,” Archuleta said.
Archuleta said investigators had collected all the evidence they needed from the scene with the help of State Police crime scene investigator Joe Schiel.
“He’s the best we can ask for,” Archuleta said.
Jessie Romero said he was hearing rumors in the community that people wanted to burn down his son’s house. He also said he and others overheard someone at the murder scene April 3 say he was going to kill Jody Romero.
Archuleta, who has been leading the search for Jody Romero, said he did not hear anyone say that at the crime scene.
Jessie Romero also said deputies with rifles came to his home looking for his son the day the murders were reported.
“They were asking, ‘Where’s Jody? You have him hidden here.’” Jessie Romero said.
He said he let the deputies search his home, but they did not find anything.
Archuleta confirmed the Department checked Jessie Romero’s home April 3 looking for Jody Romero.
Jessie Romero said he was awakened late at night on either April 11 or 12 to the sound of an engine revving outside his home. When he looked outside, he saw a car and a white truck.
“Yes, I’m worried,” Jessie Romero said. “I’m afraid I could get shot, you know?”
Jody Romero is accused of shooting DeFernandez, who was inside his home, while Fernandez’s girlfriend Amanda Romero waited in a Honda Accord in the driveway, court records state. Three witnesses allegedly heard the gunshots, then watched Jody Romero come outside and shoot Amanda Romero through the windshield of the car with a suspected AK-47, court records state. The three witnesses, who have not been identified by police, fled the scene and were interviewed by police April 4.
Archuleta said the search for Jody Romero was still going on as of Tuesday, but the Department hadn’t found anything promising within the last week. He said the search has been time-consuming because the Department is getting several tips on where Jody Romero could be hiding and the deputies have to follow up on each one.
“It’s been a hard one,” Archuleta said.