Murder case against Otero County deputy moves forward

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A district court judge has ruled there is enough evidence to move forward with a murder case against an Otero County sheriff's deputy. In June of 2024, Deputy Jacob Diaz-Austin was responding to a welfare check after a 17-year-old was seen walking along the highway near Mescalero. Another Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy placed on leave in connection to DWI dismissal scandalDeputy Diaz-Austin stopped to speak with the teen, later identified as Elijah Hadley