Grants woman killed
Local teen arrested in Valentine Day stabbing death of 43-year old

Murder suspect Alex Vandever is escorted to a waiting police cruiser Tuesday by Grants Police Sgt. Kevin Dobbs. Vandever is accused of the murder of 43-year-old Emma Charley of Grants. (Photo by Jerry WIlson/Independent)

By Jim Tiffin
Staff Writer

GRANTS — One man has been arrested in what police are calling a gang-related murder on Valentine's Day in Grants.

Alex Vandever, 18, of 112 E. Lincoln Ave., Grants, is charged with one count each of murder, attempt to commit murder and tampering with evidence, said Grants Police Chief Marty Vigil.

Dead is Emma Charley, 43, of 425 Nimitz Drive. She and an unidentified man were stabbed during an argument in the Nimitz Drive home late Monday night. She died shortly after being transported to Cibola General Hospital.

Police have leads on two or three other males who fled the scene. Police have alerted area law enforcement agencies about a compact vehicle, blue or purple, possibly a Dodge Neon with the windows broken out, that may have been implicated in the situation.

"We don't have a (license) plate number," Vigil said.

The incident occurred at 11:17 p.m. Police dispatch received a call about a fight in progress from a neighbor's residence stating weapons were possibly involved.

The male who was stabbed was admitted to Cibola General Hospital and is in stable condition. Police are not releasing his name citing the ongoing investigation into the case. The hospital will not release any information on the man due to privacy laws.

The murder scene was investigated by Grants Police detectives who finished about 5 a.m. Tuesday, Vigil said.

Detectives went back to the scene about 9 a.m., interviewed people at the location and took Vandever into custody at that time, he said.

Vandever was questioned and held at the police station where he was arrested shortly before 4 p.m., when he was transferred to the Cibola County Detention Center and booked on the charges with no bond.

Police are asking the public for help in locating the at large suspects. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Grants police detectives at 287-4404 or call CrimeStoppers at 287-8400.

— To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin@blackmesa-isp.net.