Serving the High Plains

Police: No suspects in Clovis homicide

Staff writer

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Despite a litany of interviews and tips, law enforcement officials said Monday they weren’t any closer to identifying any suspects in connection with the Sunday morning slaying of a 23-year-old Clovis woman.

The body of Ariel Ulibarri was found around 7:30 a.m. Sunday at the Goodwin Lake walking trails park off of Prince Street.

“The death of the woman is considered a homicide at this time due to the amount of blood found on the victim and some statements made to police by the deceased’s 6 year-old boy who was at the scene,” according to a release from Clovis Police Department Capt. Patrick Whitney.

As of Monday, law enforcement was unsure the attack was random or if Ulibarri’s attacker knew her.

“People need to be aware of their surroundings until we can figure out what happened,” Whitney said. He noted that people who find suspicious people hanging around remote areas should contact the police department to be safe.

Authorities are withholding information on manner and cause of death pending an official determination from the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque, where Ulibarri’s body was sent for an autopsy.

Police declined to say what Ulibarri’s son witnessed, but did say he was unhurt and that he told police he did not know his mother’s killer.

The investigation includes reviews of security cameras of businesses located around the park, calls and texts related to Ulibarri and social networking pages, in addition to numerous interviews with people who knew her.

“We’ve gotten tips,” Whitney said, “but none have panned out to be anything.”

Anybody with information on the case may call 911 and ask to speak to a detective. Tips may be sent to law enforcement at 575-763-7000, http://www.tipsubmit.com or by sending a text message to 274637 with “TIPCPD,” followed by the tip.

The homicide is Clovis’ first since July when Jose Barrera, 33, of Tucumcari was shot in a vacant apartment on Sheldon Street. Eric Valdez of Clovis is awaiting trial for second-degree murder in that case.

 
 
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