New Mexico Woman Sentenced to Life for Brutal Days Inn Hatchet Murder Where Victim Was Hacked Over 80 Times
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — A 40-year-old woman convicted in one of Albuquerque’s most gruesome motel murders has been sentenced to life in prison after playing a key role in the hatchet killing of a man who was struck more than 80 times inside a Days Inn room.
Angel Salazar was found guilty in August of felony murder, second-degree murder, and tampering with evidence in the death of Ramon Martinez, according to Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. The DA called the case “brutal beyond comprehension.”
Brutal Scene Inside Albuquerque Motel
The murder happened on September 5, 2023, at the Days Inn on Central Avenue, where Ramon Martinez was last seen sitting outside his motel room smoking before being approached by Salazar and an unidentified male accomplice.
Surveillance footage showed the pair entering Martinez’s room around 10 a.m., with the man reportedly putting on brass knuckles just before walking inside.
Roughly 30 minutes later, both suspects exited the room with blood on their arms and carrying the victim’s belongings. Security footage also captured Salazar’s bloody footprints trailing out of the motel.
“Martinez was struck more than 80 times with a hatchet,” said District Attorney Bregman. “This was a calculated, savage act of violence, and Angel Salazar played a full part in it.”
Body Found With Trail of Blood Leading Outside
Hours later, around 5 p.m., police were called to the motel after staff discovered a trail of blood leading from Martinez’s room to the nearby street. Inside, investigators found massive amounts of blood, including stains on both beds and smears across the floor.
Martinez’s body was found with deep wounds to the head and shoulders, consistent with hatchet strikes. Evidence collected at the scene matched Salazar through bloody shoeprints and DNA samples, according to police reports.
Salazar Arrested Nearby After Trying to Hide
Detectives located Salazar less than a mile from the motel, near another hotel, later that evening. She was arrested and taken into custody after requesting medical treatment for a cut on her hand and symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal.
Though questioned by investigators, Salazar refused to give a statement. Authorities say the male suspect seen with her during the attack has not been identified or apprehended.
Life Sentence With Possible Parole After 30 Years
On Thursday, Judge Stan Whitaker sentenced Salazar to life imprisonment under New Mexico law, meaning she will be eligible for parole after 30 years.
District Attorney Bregman praised law enforcement and prosecutors for bringing justice to Martinez’s family.
“This was a calculated and horrific act of violence,” Bregman said. “Thanks to the persistence of our prosecutors and investigators, the jury held the defendant accountable for this monstrous crime.”
Violent crime at Albuquerque motels has been a growing concern, with law enforcement linking several homicides in recent years to drug activity and transient living situations. Officials say the Salazar case stands as one of the most disturbing in recent memory.
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