Death of Daniel Contreras-Benitez is being investigated as a homicide. Police Need Your Help!

Crime Stoppers of Otero County is asking for your help in solving this crime. On December 2, 2023, the Otero County Sheriffs Office responded to a residence located on El Paso Drive in reference to a deceased subject. 

The 12th Judicial Major Crimes Unit (comprised of Investigators with the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Alamogordo Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Otero County Sheriff's Office and the Ruidoso Police Department) responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. 

The deceased was identified as 39-year-old Daniel Contreras-Benitez. The death of Daniel Contreras-Benitez is being investigated as a homicide. 

If anyone has information regarding the death of Daniel Contreras-Benitez please contact Detective Curtis at 575-437-2210 or call Crime Stoppers 575-434-7812. 

You can report anonymously

.IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS CRIME OR ANY OTHER CRIME, CALL CRIME STOPPERS AT 575-434-7812 OR THE OTERO COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE AT 575-437-2210. CRIME STOPPERS WILL PAY REWARDS UP TO $1,000.00 FOR INFORMATION INVOLVING ANY TYPE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT RESULTS IN THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY, AND/OR GRAND JURY INDICTMENT OF PERSON OR PERSONS INVOLVED. THE IDENTITY OF ANYONE CALLING CRIME STOPPERS WILL BE KEPT ABSOLUTELY ANONYMOUS.

State of New Mexico, Office of the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney

From the Alamogordo Fire Department: "At approximately 1107 hours on January 3rd, 2024, Alamogordo Fire Department was dispatched to the area of Incredible Court in reference to a Structure Fire with possible entrapment.

Truck 2, out of Station 5, was first on scene. They reported a single-story residential structure with heavy fire involvement. Fire and smoke were pushing out the eaves of the structure.

One child in the home was unaccounted for upon arrival of AFD. Aggressive search tactics were put into place. A primary search of the residence was completed, and no child was found in the residence. Aggressive interior suppression operations were started, and exposure protection tactics were put into place. It was confirmed shortly after that the child was not home at the time of the fire and was with his father.

Due to the layout and construction type of the residence, interior fire suppression tactics were unsuccessful. Crews were forced to evacuate the structure and began defensive suppression tactics after the compartmentalized attic space self-vented through the second roof of the structure.

An aerial master stream was deployed, and the fire was quickly extinguished. Salvage and overhaul operations were extended into the afternoon, once again due to the complex layout and construction type of the residence.

An adult female was transported by American Medical Response for burns and smoke inhalation injuries. Three children were also transported for smoke inhalation.

On-scene resources included Truck 2, Engine 1, Engine 5, Lieutenant 20, Chief 1 and Oro Vista Engine 710. No exposures were damaged, and no firefighters sustained any injuries.

The AFD Fire Investigations Unit and APD Detectives Division were requested to conduct an origin and cause investigation.

The joint investigation is still ongoing, and the fire has been preliminarily ruled as accidental in nature."

More News from Alamogordo

• Walmart Hamburger Recall Ecoli Risk Check your Walmart Hamburger
• LULAC Council 8105 Hosting Weatherization Workshop May 7th, 2024 May 7th weatherization workshop