TIJERAS, N.M. (KRQE) – The man awaiting trial for the murder of his family in Tijeras is looking to use an insanity defense. Adlai Mestre is accused of shooting and killing his father, mother, 17-year-old sister, and dog at their Tijeras home in October 2024. Deputies found their bodies in a nearby ravine.
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Mestre seemed incoherent when deputies took him into custody. He even kicked a hole in a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office interrogation room, crawled through it, and tried to escape. Under state law, defendants have 20 days after their arraignment to notify the court that they will pursue an insanity defense, but Mestre’s defense is asking a judge to waive that deadline, pointing to previous questions over his competency to stand trial.
A judge has yet to rule on that motion. No trial date has been set…