Suspects arraigned
Two Gallup men suspects in 16-year-old girl's death

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Two local men were arraigned in magistrate court on Tuesday morning in connection with the murder of a 16-year-old runaway.

Gallup residents 48-year-old Kenneth Durrante, of the 3500 block of West Highway 66, and 30-year-old Joseph W. Evans, of the 1500 block of South Cliff Drive, were arraigned on open counts of murder, kidnapping and tampering with evidence for their alleged roles in the death of Felizia Hope Penaloza.

Emergency personnel found Penaloza lifeless body, bound and lying face down inside an estimated 2-inch deep body of water that flows underneath a Francisco Pond Road bridge a mile east of Rock Springs on Sept. 12. A plastic bag, fastened with a string around her neck, also encompassed Penaloza's head and shoulders. Asphyxiation is the suspected cause of death.

Penaloza's mother reported the girl, a Gallup High School student, missing on Aug. 12, according to a missing person's report filed with the McKinley County Sheriff's department.

According to a criminal complaint filed in magistrate court, Durrante is employed with Augies Truck Service and Evans held "odd jobs." However, the affidavits for Durrante's and Evan's arrests, which would outline the events leading to their arraignments, have been sealed from the public's viewing for at least 15 days by order of officials involved with the case.

Both Durrante and Evans were in police custody at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center for unrelated, unreleased offenses prior to Tuesday's arraignment. Evan's criminal history includes larceny and embezzlement charges, according to court records.

Investigators suspect Penaloza was killed at a location other than Rock Springs and her killers discarded her body inside the ditch.

According to the criminal complaint, Penaloza was killed between Sept. 3-5 at least a week before her remains were recovered by law enforcement.

An official cause of death is pending autopsy results. Lt. Jimmy Glascock, a spokesman for the New Mexico State Police, said he could not immediately answer questions until he discussed the case with its investigators. Officials have not disclosed a motive or how they were led to Penaloza and the suspects in connection with her death.

Evans will remain in custody at the county jail on no bond. A magistrate court judge set Durrante's bond at $50,000 cash-only. Both Durrante and Evans will be appointed public defenders.

A representative for the Evan's family declined initial comment about his arrest.