Baby Eleia Maria Torres found safe after Clovis abduction, double homicide.
The Amber Alert issued for 10-month-old Eleia Maria Torres was withdrawn on Monday after she was found safe by authorities. A suspect is in custody.
Clovis Police Department Press Release
MEDIA RELEASE
CLOVIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
CLOVIS NEW MEXICO
Released through the Office of Roy Rice, Chief of Police,
Clovis Police Department
By Steven Wright, Lieutenant, Clovis Police Department, (575) 763-9469
***UPDATE***
Release Date: 05/06/24
Incident Type: Update – Double Homicide – Child Abduction, Ned Houk Park, Clovis, New Mexico
Contact Person: Steven Wright, Lieutenant, Public Information Officer, 575-763-9469
Clovis, NM – May 6, 2024 – Through a collaborated law enforcement effort, 10-month-old Eleia Maria Torres has been located and a suspect has been taken into custody. Baby Eleia has been taken to a local area hospital as a precautionary measure. The Clovis Police Department would like to thank all agencies involved in this investigation that worked tirelessly to reach this conclusion. We will release more details at a later time.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, 10-month-old Eleia Maria Torres has been rescued from danger. The suspect accused of abducting her and allegedly committing the murder of her mother is now in custody.
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Alek Isaiah Collins, aged 26, was apprehended early Monday morning in Abilene, Texas, following a tip received by authorities indicating his whereabouts. Upon locating Collins at a residence, authorities also found Eleia, who was promptly taken to a hospital for evaluation.
While investigators do not believe Collins had prior connections to the victims, they continue to pursue leads to establish a motive for the tragic events.
“We are not done yet; we want to make sure this case is rock solid,” stated Raul Bujanda, FBI special agent in charge. “We want to make sure that this suspect pays for all the heartache we are all feeling today.”
Eleia’s mother, Samantha Cisneros, and another woman, Taryn Allen, were discovered fatally shot at Ned Houk Park, just outside of Clovis, on Friday. Both victims hailed from Texico, located approximately 15 minutes east of Clovis.
On Sunday, authorities provided a timeline of events, indicating that Cisneros and Allen had stopped at a local restaurant before heading to the Dollar Tree. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots at the park around 4:30 p.m. Friday, leading officers to find Cisneros and Allen near a minivan.
Additionally, Cisneros’ five-year-old daughter was found at the scene with a severe gunshot wound to the head and was airlifted to a Lubbock hospital.
Upon realizing that Eleia was missing, an Amber Alert was issued, culminating in her safe recovery on Monday morning.
“While we are relieved to have Eleia back, we also mourn the loss of those taken from us,” expressed Bujanda. “If that doesn’t touch your heart, then I don’t know what will.”
Collins currently faces charges of aggravated robbery and assault on a peace officer, with additional charges pending. Authorities continue to appeal for information from the public as the investigation progresses.