Cold case files get new life
Police seek public's help in solving old cases

Gallup Police are still investigating the cold case involving the homocide of an unidentified woman in 1975. Police hope new evidence from Texas may help, or that someone may recognize the case and provide more evidence. [Photo Illustration by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Police are seeking information from the public concerning a pair of cold cases that have left investigators with few answers.

The first case involves the Dec. 14, 1975, death of a young woman whose identity has never been determined.

Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department, said the woman, who was estimated to be between the ages 18 and 24, was shot in the head at close range by a male acquaintance at the former Thriftway gas station located at 1205 E. Hwy. 66. The station has since been torn down and replaced with a Baskin Robbin's.

Witnesses said the pair arrived at the station in a green van with the license plate 05834. However, observers did not know what state the plate was issued from. Once at the station, the pair began to argue. The woman entered the store, used the station's restroom and then went outside to the parking lot. The man then pulled the woman's arm to prevent her from re-entering the gas station.

According to witnesses, the woman came inside, placed a gun on the store's counter and told the man she was " ... not going to take this anymore."

The man then picked up the gun and fired a shot at the store clerk. But the clerk was able to dodge the bullet. Meanwhile, the woman hid behind the store's counter.

The man then reached over the counter, pulled the woman up by her hair and shot her to death in the head as bystanders watched in disbelief.

The woman is described as Caucasian, about 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighed between 100 and 110 pounds. She was wearing an army green jacket, orange pants and army field boots that were two sizes too big. Her hair was shoulder length and light brown and her eyes were hazel green in color. Two of her toes are also webbed together.

The suspect is described as Hispanic or Puerto Rican, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and as weighing about 150 pounds. Witnesses said his hair was black and "kinky."

Reyes said he is in the process of comparing Gallup's case to missing persons reports in Texas to determine the woman's identity. She was buried as "Jane Doe" at a local cemetery.

The case was submitted to "America's Most Wanted" in 2000, but was later declined because the fugitive's identity was not known. In these types of situations, Toadlena-Pablo said it is typical for the assailant to run from the scene. However, the man looked at all the witnesses, then slowly walked to the van and drove from the gas station at a low rate of speed. More than 20 years have passed since the woman's death, and police have yet to make an arrest in connection with the killing. Investigators have recently re-opened the case and want to interview the multiple witnesses who were at the gas station on Dec. 14.

Anyone with information about the incident, is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 722-6161 or Detective Juan Reyes at 863-9365.


Missing King

Gloria King

In a second unsolved case, police are also asking for information about a Gallup native whose whereabouts have been unknown since 1996.

Toadlena-Pablo said 42-year-old Gloria King's ex-husband John King reported his wife missing after the pair allegedly lost one another as they were traveling in separate vehicles from Albuquerque to Gallup.

Gloria King's vehicle was later found abandoned at the El Rancho Hotel and she has not been seen since Aug. 9, 1996. Gloria King is Native American, about 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighed about 115 pounds. She also has a scar behind her left ear lobe. Toadlena-Pablo said King left behind several children.

Anyone with information about the case, is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 722-6161 or Detective Reyes at 863-9365.