NEW MEXICO — On June 12, 2018 New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents obtained recorded phone conversations placed by the suspects, John Powell and Roger Gage, which were made to Powell’s girlfriend, Sonya Chavez (34) of El Prado, while they were incarcerated.
During the phone conversations Powell and Gage are heard collaborating with Chavez to retrieve drugs that were stolen during the commission of the murders. The suspects inform Chavez of where those drugs can be located.
After learning this information, the agent’s follow up investigation revealed that Chavez had retrieved the drugs from the location given to her by the suspects. When confronted, Chavez told agents she had gotten the drugs but refused to tell agents what she had done with them.
Chavez was booked into the Rio Arriba County Detention Center on charges of Tampering with Evidence (1st degree felony) and Conspiracy (3rd degree felony).
