New Mexico man arrested after ankle monitor leads authorities to his missing wife’s body

SILVER CITY, N.M. (TCD) -- A 35-year-old man was arrested this week after investigator’s discovered his missing wife’s body in a forest.

According to a missing endangered advisory, Erica Zamora was last seen Sept. 29 at approximately 7 a.m. at her home on Rio De Arenas in Arenas Valley, New Mexico. The advisory said she was "missing and is believed to be in DANGER if not located."

Lieutenant Mark Soriano with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety wrote in a statement her family reported her missing Oct. 1. Investigators later learned Erica and her husband Armando Zamora were reportedly cutting wood in a forest on Sept. 26. Armando Zamora told investigators they went back to his house, then he dropped Erica off at her residence on Sept. 28.

According to Soriano, investigators learned Armando was on probation for criminal sexual contact of a minor under the age of 13. He was required to wear an ankle monitor, so investigators used that information to gather coordinates for where they were allegedly chopping wood in the forest.

After homing in on the location, investigators reportedly found a body that matched Erica Zamora’s description. The Office of the Medical Examiner positively identified the body as Erica’s.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, Armando filed for divorce from Erica in June after about 10 years of marriage. The Albuquerque Journal, citing the affidavit, reports Erica’s injuries were "consistent with a physical altercation."

Soriano said during an interview Oct. 3, Armando confessed to killing her by beating her with an axe. He was booked into the Grant County Jail and charged with an open count of murder.

The arrest affidavit cited by the Albuquerque Journal says Armando "told agents Erica Zamora had punched him and he took his axe and killed her."

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