S1: E3 – Abducted in Alburquerque

Summary

American Homicide: S1: E3 – Abducted in Albuquerque

Release Date: October 24, 2024
Host: Sloan Glass
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

---

Introduction

In the third episode of American Homicide, journalist Sloan Glass delves into the harrowing case of Yolanda Medina, a young woman whose tragic fate intertwined with the vast deserts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This episode meticulously unpacks the events leading up to her disappearance, the subsequent investigation, and the chilling aftermath that left the community and law enforcement grappling for answers.

---

The Discovery of Yolanda Medina

Date: October 23, 1991
Location: Bernalillo, New Mexico

On the evening of Columbus Day in 1991, Yolanda Medina, a 20-year-old college student, was last seen leaving her workplace at a travel agency in downtown Albuquerque. The following day, her body was discovered in an arroyo—an irrigation ditch—15 miles north of the city in Bernalillo.

Sloan Glass narrates:

"A young woman's body was discarded in the desert." [01:37]

Aldous Hodge, a key detective in the case, recounts the grim scene:

"I grabbed my camera and walked down this ditch bank about 200 yards where this tree was, and saw what appeared to be a female... I also noticed that there were maggots coming out of every orifice of her body that I knew she had been there for a few days." [04:47]

The coroner's office confirmed Yolanda Medina's identity through dental records. She was found naked with bruises on her face and chest, making initial identification challenging.

---

Yolanda Medina: A Life Cut Short

Yolanda was beloved by her family and peers. A third-generation Mexican-American, she juggled college classes while working, aspiring to become a flight attendant. Her warm demeanor and friendly nature made her a cherished member of her community.

Aldous Hodge reflects on her character:

"She was just a very outgoing young lady that had such a future ahead of her." [06:35]

The nightmare for her family and the tight-knit Bernalillo community was intensified by the sudden and brutal nature of her death.

---

The Investigation Begins

Detective Tony Lopez of the Bernalillo Police Department spearheaded the investigation. Being his first homicide case, Lopez was deeply committed to bringing justice to Yolanda's family.

Aldous Hodge shares Lopez's determination:

"I was not going to stop till I caught the people who were responsible for this." [10:37]

Initial leads pointed to a couple from Veracruz, Mexico, whom Yolanda had assisted at her travel agency. This couple, Mario Torres and Catalina Tarin, were the last known individuals to see Yolanda alive.

---

Identifying the Suspects: Mario Torres and Catalina Tarin

The investigation focused on Mario and Catalina after eyewitnesses described a Hispanic couple leaving with Yolanda. Police sketches and public appeals helped narrow down their identities.

Sloan Glass details:

"The couple was the last to see Yolanda alive. So the first order of business was to find them." [09:13]

The couple's connection to Yolanda was further solidified when fake identification cards and personal belongings of Yolanda were discovered in their possession during a search of their sanctuary at a local church.

---

A Narrow Escape: Tina Unali's Testimony

A pivotal moment in the investigation was the testimony of Tina Unali, a woman who had attempted to assist Mario and Catalina. She narrowly escaped an attempted assault, providing crucial insights into the suspects' motives and methods.

Aldous Hodge recounts:

"She felt so blessed and lucky to get away and not become a victim." [17:10]

Tina's account revealed the couple's intent to sexually assault, exposing the dangerous nature of Mario and Catalina.

---

Arrest and Evidence

Through diligent police work, including surveillance and community tips, Mario Torres and Catalina Tarin were apprehended. The evidence against them was overwhelming, featuring:

• Yolanda Medina's class ring with her name engraved.
• The jacket she was last seen wearing.
• Fake Social Security cards.
• A gold necklace and bracelet belonging to Yolanda.
• A piece of the rag found in Yolanda's throat matched one found in the couple's possession.

Aldous Hodge emphasizes the gravity of the evidence:

"The rag was actually used to help kill her... That was one of the worst things, that they killed her in a church where they were given sanctuary." [20:30]

Despite the strength of the physical evidence, the legal proceedings took an unexpected turn.

---

The Sudden Turn of Events: Suspects' Suicides

As the trial was set to begin in May 1992, Mario and Catalina Torres tragically took their own lives in custody on the morning of Cinco de Mayo. This mysterious event halted the legal process, leaving many questions unanswered.

Gary Mitchell, attorney for Catalina, expresses skepticism:

"I found her very pleasant, very nice, very meek... It never occurred to me that all that charm came from a psychopath." [24:03]

Their suicide notes further complicated the case, as Mario confessed to two additional murders in Mexico, implicating his brother, though these claims were met with skepticism both locally and internationally.

Cecilia Nimchak, Assistant District Attorney, notes:

"Mario claimed he used a fake name while he was in the United States... It's far from over." [26:53]

---

Aftermath and Lingering Doubts

The case concluded with the suicides of the suspects, but the community and Detective Lopez were left with unresolved emotions and unanswered questions.

Aldous Hodge shares his lingering unease:

"I was troubled by the fact that they used churches... That seemed particularly evil." [20:49]

Moreover, during an autopsy, Catalina was found wearing Yolanda's contact lenses, a detail that puzzled the investigators and hinted at deeper manipulations.

Aldous Hodge reflects:

"Seeing two bodies there, laid, laying there lifeless... the couple... were very evil." [31:16]

Despite the closure provided by their deaths, the truth behind Yolanda Medina's murder remained partly obscured, leaving Detective Lopez unsettled and the community yearning for complete justice.

---

Conclusion

This episode of American Homicide masterfully weaves the tragic narrative of Yolanda Medina with the investigative efforts to uncover the truth behind her untimely death. Through interviews, detailed recounting of events, and analysis of the evidence, Sloan Glass paints a vivid picture of a community shaken by violence and a detective driven by the pursuit of justice. The unresolved elements and the mysterious suicides of the suspects add layers of complexity, inviting listeners to ponder the elusive nature of truth in the face of tragedy.

---

Notable Quotes

• Sloan Glass [01:37]: "A young woman's body was discarded in the desert."

• Aldous Hodge [04:47]: "I grabbed my camera and walked down this ditch bank about 200 yards where this tree was, and saw what appeared to be a female... I also noticed that there were maggots coming out of every orifice of her body that I knew she had been there for a few days."

• Aldous Hodge [10:37]: "I was not going to stop till I caught the people who were responsible for this."

• Aldous Hodge [20:30]: "The rag was actually used to help kill her... that they killed her in a church where they were given sanctuary."

• Gary Mitchell [24:03]: "I found her very pleasant, very nice, very meek... It never occurred to me that all that charm came from a psychopath."

• Cecilia Nimchak [26:53]: "Mario claimed he used a fake name while he was in the United States... It's far from over."

• Aldous Hodge [31:16]: "Seeing two bodies there, laid, laying there lifeless... the couple... were very evil."

---

Final Thoughts

American Homicide continues to explore the depths of America's most mysterious and iconic murder cases, highlighting the intricate connections between crime and their unique settings. In "Abducted in Albuquerque," the narrative not only uncovers the brutal reality of Yolanda Medina's murder but also delves into the psychological and procedural intricacies that define such investigations. This episode serves as a compelling testament to the relentless pursuit of truth within the shadows of tragedy.

Transcript

[Detective Alex Cross]

Now streaming on Prime Video. You can call me Detective Alex Cross. Based on characters created by James Patterson. We have to catch this serial killer. I don't kill for fun.

[Aldous Hodge]

And created by Ben Watkins.

[Detective Alex Cross]

This killer thinks he's the smartest guy in the room. Aldous Hodge is DC's funniest Alex Cross. If we don't find him soon, we may never have another chance.

[Sloan Glass]

Clock's ticking.

[Aldous Hodge]

You think you can stop him?

[Detective Alex Cross]

I know I can. Because I know him better than he knows himself. Cross. A new original series only on Prime Video. Watch now.

[Sloan Glass]

What's good? It's Colleen Witt. And Eating While Broke is back for season three. Brought to you by the Black Effect podcast network and iHeartRadio. We're serving up some real stories and life lessons from people like Van Lathan, D.C. young, fly phone Thugs and Harmony, and many more. They're sharing the dishes that got them through their struggles and the wisdom they gained along the way. We're cooking up something special, so tune in every Thursday. Listen to Eating While Broke on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Sloan Glass]

A young woman's body was discarded in the desert.

[Aldous Hodge]

I mean, that's sick. That is definitely sick.

[Sloan Glass]

Who was responsible?

[Aldous Hodge]

Everyone where Yolanda worked at were scared for their lives also.

[Sloan Glass]

And why were the police the ones being questioned?

[Gary Mitchell]

I mean, what exactly is going on here?

[Sloan Glass]

In this podcast, we take you across the country to investigate some of America's deadliest crimes. We'll explore how these murders are shaped by their unique landscapes, and in turn, how these tragedies have shaped the fabric of these American communities forever. Today, we're in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the story of Yolanda Medina. My name is Sloan Glass, and this is American Homicide. Podcast contains subject matters which may not be suitable for all audiences. Discretion is advised. It's a magnificent sight. The desert skies of Albuquerque turn into a kaleidoscope of color as hundreds of hot air balloons take flight during the International Balloon Fiesta. It began as a radio promotion in 1972 and turned into an annual must see each October. Tens of Thousands of spectators pour into Albuquerque to see hot air balloons of every size, shape and color take flight over the Rio Grande River. And as the years have passed, the balloons have transformed into all kinds of different themes. One looked like a giant cactus, while others resemble the witch and even a giant bottle of scotch. On a day when everyone's eyes were on the playful sky over the river, the water was concealing a dark discovery. As the fiesta wrapped in 1991, the many spectators made their way home, including a boy and his father.

[Aldous Hodge]

On the east side of the Rio Grande river, he saw what seemed to be like a human body.

[Sloan Glass]

Detective Tony Lopez investigated.

[Aldous Hodge]

They immediately then called 911, and we were dispatched.

[Sloan Glass]

Detective Lopez worked for the Bernalillo Police Department, a small town about 15 miles north of Albuquerque.

[Aldous Hodge]

Very close knit town. Population at that time, back in 91 was approximately 6,000. I hate to say this, but they didn't like outsiders. At the time that I got hired with the town of Berleo, there was three of us that were outsiders. The chief of police, my captain, which was Greg Marcantel, and myself. We didn't live in the town of Bernalillo, so we're considered outsiders. They want to keep everything within and keep outsiders out.

[Sloan Glass]

Bernalillo was a quiet town, so hearing about a body washing up along the river was terrifying.

[Aldous Hodge]

Bernalillo was not a dangerous place. They weren't used to that.

[Sloan Glass]

Detective Lopez headed to a place people in the southwest call an arroyo, which means an irrigation ditch.

[Aldous Hodge]

I arrived and it was late at night. It was already getting dark. I grabbed my camera and walked down this ditch bank about 200 yards where this tree was, and saw what appeared to be a female. She was stuck under some branches, which indicated to me that she had been hidden there. I also noticed that there was maggots coming out of every orifice of her body that I knew she had been there for a few days.

[Sloan Glass]

The young woman appeared to be Hispanic. She had a dark complexion and very long brown hair. Her body was found naked with bruises on her face and chest, which made it difficult to identify her.

[Aldous Hodge]

The body was finally placed in a body bag and transported to Albuquerque to.

[Sloan Glass]

The coroner's office a few yards away. Officers noticed drag marks along the ditch.

[Aldous Hodge]

But there was no physical evidence around the body itself.

[Sloan Glass]

So as you can imagine, it was an awful scene for officers who were trying to make sense of what happened. And then they got word about a young woman who was reported missing four days earlier.

[Aldous Hodge]

A missing person's case had been filed in Albuquerque after the Autopsy we knew that this female was the same female that was missing out of Albuquerque.

[Sloan Glass]

It took dental records to confirm the body was Yolanda Medina, a 20 year old college student who worked and went to school in downtown Albuquerque, but lived with her parents in Bernalillo. She was a child when her parents left the Mexican town of Veracruz in pursuit of the American dream.

[Aldous Hodge]

Just a beautiful family, the whole entire family.

[Sloan Glass]

Yolanda was one of six with a warm and friendly smile. It was always easy for her to make friends.

[Aldous Hodge]

She was just a very outgoing young lady that had such a future ahead of her.

[Sloan Glass]

Even while taking college classes, Yolanda proudly wore her high school class ring with her name engraved on it. Her dream was to become a flight attendant, A job her friends thought she was perfect for.

[Aldous Hodge]

They were all telling us at how lovable Yolanda was and caring.

[Sloan Glass]

The last time anyone saw Yolanda live was on the eve of her birthday. She was about to turn 21.

[Aldous Hodge]

Yolanda was working at this travel agency in Albuquerque. And on Columbus Day, there was a couple that had gone to her work and were looking for directions for a bank. Yolanda had explained to them that there was no banks open that day.

[Sloan Glass]

The couple said they were college students from Veracruz, Mexico, which happened to be where Yolanda was born.

[Aldous Hodge]

The couple, a male and a female, being Mexican nationals and Yolanda having been Mexican herself, There was a connection there. One thing with Mexican nationals especially, being in a strange country, they want to help each other, give each other direction on anything that they need. And that's what Yolanda Medina was doing.

[Sloan Glass]

The three of them made small talk. And just before Yolanda walked into work, the couple extended an invitation.

[Aldous Hodge]

The couple felt that Yolanda was so kind with them that they invited her for lunch on the following day and said, you know, since you were so nice to us, we want to make you a lunch. Tomorrow we come pick you up. And that evening she was having dinner with her parents. And she stated to her mom, I met this couple. They're from Veracruz. They want to take me to lunch tomorrow. I don't know what to do. I feel kind of nervous about it.

[Sloan Glass]

Yolanda accepted their invitation. The couple was friendly. They were all a similar age and they shared a hometown.

[Aldous Hodge]

Parents told her that they were very nice to her and that she should accept.

[Sloan Glass]

And so the next day, the couple from Veracruz returned to the travel agency. And around noon, the three left for lunch.

[Aldous Hodge]

According to witnesses, a couple came in, picked her up and she never returned back to work.

[Sloan Glass]

Four days later, Yolanda's body turned up in A ditch.

[Aldous Hodge]

The circumstances of this whole case of a known couple coming in and taking her to lunch, never returning back, was very suspicious.

[Sloan Glass]

The couple was the last to see Yolanda alive. So the first order of business was to find them.

[Aldous Hodge]

One of the witnesses who was also an employee at where Yolanda worked. They gave a description of the male and the female. We put those sketches on television and we started asking the public for help.

[Sloan Glass]

By then, the disturbing details of Yolanda's death had already spread throughout the town. The pathologist determined that Yolanda was beaten and sexually assaulted, but ultimately died after choking on a rag.

[Aldous Hodge]

There was a red shop rag which they put in her mouth. And as Yolana Medina was fighting for her life with all she had and trying to breathe, that rag ended up killing her. And that's what asphyxiated her.

[Sloan Glass]

The rag was found lodged in her throat. Can you imagine?

[Aldous Hodge]

I've never forgotten that. Never will. I mean, the town was scared. Didn't know if there was a killer or killers on the loose. It wasn't something that occurred every day. Everyone where Yolanda worked at were scared for their lives. Also, they didn't know if she was targeted or it was just a thing that happened.

[Sloan Glass]

For a small police department in the suburbs of Albuquerque, the case took precedence. For Detective Tony Lopez. It became personal.

[Aldous Hodge]

It was my first homicide, and being that it was a very young girl, my goal was I was not going to stop till I caught the people who were responsible for this. So when I hit it, I hit it. I wanted to make sure that I got closure for the family. I knew it was not going to bring Yolanda and Medina back to them, but we were going to find out who did it and we were going to catch them and they were going to pay for it.

[Sloan Glass]

Detective Lopez was determined to solve this crime, which makes it all the more mind boggling that by the end of the investigation, Lopez himself would be a suspect.

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[Sloan Glass]

Learn [e-mail] on the eve of her 21st birthday, Yolanda Medina left her office in busy downtown Albuquerque for lunch, but never returned. Four days later, her body turned up in a ditch some 15 miles north in Bernalillo, New Mexico.

[Aldous Hodge]

That was the last time I got a full day's sleep.

[Sloan Glass]

It was the first homicide Detective Tony Lopez ever investigated for the Bernalillo Police Department.

[Aldous Hodge]

I basically went home for an hour a day just to go shower, put on some clean clothes, and I was back at it. I was gonna do everything I could in my power to make sure that we brought justice.

[Sloan Glass]

Yolanda was last seen leaving her office with a couple she had just met. Now police needed to find them.

[Aldous Hodge]

A tip came up of an individual who had stated to us that he had picked up a couple walking from Bernalillo towards Albuquerque, and he had given him a ride to a church in Albuquerque.

[Sloan Glass]

Not only did the couple fit the description of the sketch the police had, but they told the guy who picked them up they were college students from Veracruz who had been robbed and needed a place to stay.

[Aldous Hodge]

One thing with Mexico Nationals, they look for churches for immunity.

[Sloan Glass]

Back in 1991, and even today, most churches in Albuquerque offer sanctuary to migrants.

[Aldous Hodge]

So they referred this couple to another church where they might be able to stay and would get help. I went to the church, talked to that pastor to try to find out if he knew anything about a couple that were staying there.

[Sloan Glass]

The pastor took one look at the sketch and knew exactly who this couple was.

[Aldous Hodge]

Mario Torres and Catalina Tarin. They were staying in a basement at this church.

[Sloan Glass]

Now, stick with me here because there are a few reasons out of all the people who have gone through his church, this pastor remembered the couple. For starters, they had conflicting stories on whether they were married. It was clear that they were trying to change their identity. And there was more.

[Aldous Hodge]

He had scratches on his face.

[Sloan Glass]

So we have Mario, whose face looks very suspicious since it's covered in scratches. And then we have his partner, Catalina, who's also raising eyebrows because she's just started wearing colored contacts.

[Aldous Hodge]

They wanted to get some IDs since they were here illegally in the United States. So the word got around that this couple needed help. I discovered from this pastor that there was a lady who had been helping them.

[Sloan Glass]

So the priest directs Detective Lopez to a woman named Tina Unali, who readily told detectives she helped Mario and Catalina get fake identification cards. She wanted to help. She stopped by the couple's room at the church. But after having a glass of water, she felt something was wrong.

[Aldous Hodge]

They wanted her to drink this glass of water. And Tina Yannelli's telling them she didn't want any water. She wasn't thirsty.

[Sloan Glass]

But they were pushy, and Tina eventually took a sip. She said the water was warm and tasted weird.

[Aldous Hodge]

And they're still trying to convince her to drink this water.

[Sloan Glass]

Catalina left the room and closed the door behind her. This left Tina alone with Mario.

[Aldous Hodge]

Mario Torres then starts putting moves on Tina. Yanelli, coming onto her, tries to hug her and tries to kiss her. Ciano Yanelli then cusses hit him in Spanish. She goes, I'm married. And he says, I'm married, too.

[Sloan Glass]

And in the basement of the church, Mario suggested a wife swap.

[Aldous Hodge]

She told him, well, you better back away, because if you don't, I'm going to kick your ass. She's a Hispanic woman, loves to be around motorcycles. So she's been around tough guys, and she's a tough girl.

[Sloan Glass]

Thankfully, Tina was able to escape Mario. Her instincts were right on. Police believe that that weird tasting water was drugged, and the couple had intended to sexually assault her.

[Aldous Hodge]

She felt so blessed and lucky to get away and not become a victim.

[Sloan Glass]

Tina's escape happened only a few days before Yolanda Medina went missing, upping the urgency for detectives to find this couple. They were clever and dangerous. Detective Lopez knew it wasn't going to be easy to catch them.

[Aldous Hodge]

I parked across the street from this church, and I saw a vehicle with Hispanic couple in the vehicle leaving with a priest. I saw that the priest had pulled over about a quarter mile away at a video store. The couple got out, stood in front of that video store for a little while, and as I'm doing surveillance, they're walking right in front of my vehicle.

[Sloan Glass]

Now standing with a priest. Just a few feet away were Mario and Catalina.

[Aldous Hodge]

Same picture from the Sketch that we had. I mean, identical. So I immediately approached them and asked them for their names. The male told me that his name was Mario Torres and the lady was Catalina Tarin. The male was trying to be very cooperative, and the lady had a very mean look, giving me dirty looks, mumbling to the gentleman. She didn't look happy at all.

[Sloan Glass]

The couple had fraudulent Social Security cards. So Detective Lopez called for ins.

[Aldous Hodge]

INS took detention of them, which at that time, it allowed us to obtain a search warrant for the room that they were living in there at the church.

[Sloan Glass]

During their search of the couple's room, detectives were. They were actually shocked by what they found.

[Aldous Hodge]

During her search warrant, we discovered a class ring with Yolanda's name engraved on the inside. The jacket that she was last seen in was also discovered in that room.

[Sloan Glass]

Police also found fake IDs. And then there was this. A gold necklace and bracelet that belonged to Yolanda. Suddenly, all the missing pieces of the puzzle came together for detectives.

[Aldous Hodge]

At that time, when we had this evidence against this couple, I mean, you would think there would be some excitement, but there really wasn't because it was far from over at this point.

[Sloan Glass]

The District Attorney's office entered the investigation, and the church where all of this happened was very familiar to Deputy DA Michael Cox.

[Detective Alex Cross]

Oddly enough, if I looked out my window, I could see the church. So it probably happened across the street from where I was.

[Sloan Glass]

This church was actually across the street from the District Attorney's office.

[Detective Alex Cross]

That was the place that they had been offered as a sanctuary, and that's where we believe the crime was committed. This was a tough case for a defense attorney. There was a lot of evidence. There was blood. There was a drag mark that appeared to be a body that had been pushed or moved.

[Sloan Glass]

They also found the most damning evidence, and it's the most disturbing. A piece of the rag that was found inside of Yolanda's throat.

[Detective Alex Cross]

Well, the rag was actually used to help kill her. She was partially asphyxiated with a rag, torn red shop rag. And the piece in her throat was matched to the piece that was found in the church basement.

[Sloan Glass]

The most unholy act happening in such a sacred place.

[Detective Alex Cross]

I was troubled by the. The fact that they used churches. That seemed to me to be one of the worst things, that they killed her in a church where they were given sanctuary and used it for, not just kill her, but try to kidnap and rape another woman. And then they went from there and took all of the stuff they'd gotten from the crimes and went to another church that was giving them sanctuary.

[Sloan Glass]

It was a behavior the deputy district attorney had never seen before.

[Detective Alex Cross]

They preyed on people who were helping them. And that seemed particularly evil, frankly, because every one of the victims, especially the women, the one who was killed and the one who escaped became victims because they were trying to help these two people. That seemed particularly awful to me.

[Sloan Glass]

Mario and Catalina were deadly con artists. They were dangerous people.

[Detective Alex Cross]

I think the pair of them were so deadly because no one expected them.

[Sloan Glass]

Police finally made an arrest. Mario and Catalina were charged with first degree murder along with the sexual assault and kidnapping of Yolanda Medina. Despite the evidence, prosecutors were facing an uphill battle.

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[Sloan Glass]

Bernalino police arrested Mario Torres and Catalina Tarin for the murder of Yolanda Medina. If convicted, the couple faced the death penalty.

[Gary Mitchell]

In 1991 in New Mexico, prosecutors were asking for the death penalty, particularly in cases that involved any kind of kidnapping or rape.

[Sloan Glass]

Attorney Gary Mitchell was assigned to represent Catalina Tarin.

[Gary Mitchell]

I found her very pleasant, very nice, very meek. This is not somebody that I would ever envision doing harm to anybody. She was not the person in my mind that would have been the leader of that.

[Sloan Glass]

Not Only that. But he also felt the case against his client was entirely circumstantial. I guess it never occurred to him that all that charm came from a psychopath.

[Gary Mitchell]

It turned into a homicide case after they said, well, wait a second. Ms. Medina mentions they're going out with these people. Da, ta, da. And track that and follow that up. And then she never comes back. And the last people she's supposed to be with are in jail. And let's see if we can tie all this stuff together. Some of these detectives tie this stuff together. I mean, I know these guys have great respect for them, but I thought they. I thought this was pretty flimsy, actually. It seemed to me that we were jumping to some pretty good conclusions. I mean, if I wanted to kill somebody, who am I going to blame it on? The easiest people I can point to is immigrants or people that can't fight back.

[Sloan Glass]

Catalina and Mario's trial was set to begin in mid May of 1992. But on the morning of Cinco de Mayo, Catalina's lawyer received some shocking news.

[Gary Mitchell]

I get a call informing me that my client was deceased. Both of them committed suicide on the same night in the same manner at the detention center in Bernalillo County. I mean, what. What exactly is going on here?

[Sloan Glass]

You heard that, right? Mario and Catalina overdosed on their antidepressant medication on the same day, despite being in solitary confinement on two different floors. How does that even happen? Well, law enforcement speculates the two may have passed notes to each other.

[Gary Mitchell]

They saved up all their medications, wadded up and kept them in a ball or whatever, and then took them all at one time. I mean, it had to be a big ball, bigger than a golf ball of medications that they took. You know, they just never took them all those weeks and were being prescribed these medications. That's what they died from. Wow. What is going on here? This is not what I thought when I first got this case. And sure enough, when she committed suicide, that pretty well, in my mind, said, yeah, she's under the power of somebody else. She took her own life because this guy told her to. And that sort of sums up this case.

[Cecilia Nimchak]

Obviously, it's a big story that the Medina suspects had taken their own lives.

[Sloan Glass]

Cecilia Nimchak was the assistant district attorney. And this is where the story takes another turn. Mario left behind two handwritten suicide notes. And those notes left more questions than answers.

[Cecilia Nimchak]

Very lengthy, very long, written by him denying that they had committed the murders, saying that somebody else had done it.

[Sloan Glass]

In these letters, Mario claimed he and Catalina could no longer take the mistreatment in solitary confinement because, according to Mario, he and Catalina were innocent of Yolana Medina's murder.

[Cecilia Nimchak]

It was a denial of killing Yolanda Medina, but admitting to killing two other women in Mexico. So that was very unusual.

[Sloan Glass]

Mario claimed he did murder two women in Mexico and in chilling detail, outlined who they were and how he did it.

[Cecilia Nimchak]

It was his lover that was the first victim. She was angry because she found out that he was married, and he had no choice but to shut her up by strangling her. And then, sadly, another woman walked by and witnessed this, and he had no choice but to strangle her because she would tell.

[Sloan Glass]

So police immediately contacted the authorities in Mexico, who confirmed these murders had taken place. And they had a suspect in custody. Mario's brother.

[Cecilia Nimchak]

His brother was arrested in Mexico for these murders. Some people could say he didn't do this, and the only reason he was confessing to those two homicides was to get his brother off.

[Gary Mitchell]

I didn't put a lot of faith or merit into the letter that he wrote. I just figured it's another part of whatever manipulation was taking place.

[Sloan Glass]

And neither did the Mexican police. There was no evidence the Mexican police ever took Mario's confession seriously. And in these long and sometimes rambling letters, Mario claimed he used a fake name while he was in the United States. And then there was this bombshell. Mario claimed he and Catalina were set up by the police and that the police were actually responsible for the murders.

[Cecilia Nimchak]

You know, that would maybe cause you pause to think whether or not they really did this. But when you have all of the physical evidence that was connected with Yolanda Medina found in the places that they had stayed, and then on top of it, rereading the long letter, there's some huge holes in that, because he's going through the timeline of how they came to Albuquerque, says that as soon as he got off the bus, two detectives, two police officers interviewed him and accused him of killing this woman.

[Sloan Glass]

Now, that would have been five to six weeks before Yolanda's murder occurred, Making his story hard to believe. Still determined to find the truth, police investigated two of their own.

[Aldous Hodge]

In his letter, he blamed Captain Greg Marcantel and myself.

[Sloan Glass]

Detective Tony Lopez worked the case with his boss, Greg Martel.

[Aldous Hodge]

Greg Martel and myself did not commit that murder.

[Sloan Glass]

Captain Greg mar also denied the allegations, and eventually he and detective Lopez were cleared.

[Aldous Hodge]

The couple that killed Yolana Medina are very evil. They never showed any remorse whatsoever. You know, blaming someone else other than themselves. They're sick individuals. Here, you Have a husband and wife raping. He was raping, and she's holding them down. I mean, that's sick. That is definitely sick.

[Sloan Glass]

Detective Tony Lopez's homicide investigation ended with the accused taking their own lives and blaming him and his partner for the murder of Yolanda Medina.

[Aldous Hodge]

Part of me felt as if justice was done because they were leaving this earth and no one else was going to have to go through what Yolanda Medina did or what Tina Yannelli almost went through.

[Sloan Glass]

But before Detective Lopez could turn the page and just file this away, he felt this sense of being unsettled. The two suspects were dead, but for him, it just wasn't over.

[Aldous Hodge]

I went to the autopsy of these suspects.

[Sloan Glass]

So why go to the autopsy? Well, he wanted closure.

[Aldous Hodge]

Seeing two bodies there, laid, laying there lifeless. I hate to say that I'm human, but that's where I got my satisfaction, because we were going for the death penalty on them. That didn't occur.

[Sloan Glass]

And at that autopsy, they found one more piece of evidence. And this was kind of gross, kind of weird, but, boy, it was the smoking gun.

[Aldous Hodge]

When they did perform Catalina Tarnin's autopsy, they found that she was wearing contact lenses that belonged to Yolanda Medina. Those were still in her eyes. I physically remember them taking those out. And she had been wearing these since the day of the murder. Murder occurred in October of 1991, and they committed suicide May of 1992. And she held onto that. Still wearing those contact lenses was just not right. That had a big impact and remained with me during my whole life. In Spanish, we have a saying that says, nun cavanadia sin pagar, which indicates, you never leave this life without paying. And they paid. They paid it themselves, and that's all they love.

[Sloan Glass]

Next time on American Homicide. A mobster wanted in a triple murder engages in a game of catch me if you can. And before it's over, Redden's a hit on the prosecution. Star witness. Join us next week for the latest episode of American Homicide. You can contact the American Homicide team by emailing [e-mail] that's AmericanHomicidePodmail.com American Homicide is hosted and written by me, Sloan Glass and is a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show is executive produced by Nancy Glass and Todd Ganz. The series is also written and produced by Todd Ganz with additional writing by Ben Federman and Andrea Gunning. Our associate producer is Kristen Melcuri. Our iHeart team is Ally Perry and Jessica Krynchak Audio editing and mixing by Matt D'Alvecchio Additional editing support from Nicaruka Tanner Robbins, Britt Robichaud and Patrick Walsh American Homicide's theme song was composed by Oliver Baines of Noiser Music Library, provided by MIB Music. Follow American Homicide on Apple Podcasts and please rate and review American Homicide. Your five star review goes a long way towards helping others find this show. For more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Detective Alex Cross]

Now streaming on Prime Video. You can call me Detective Alex Cross. Based on characters created by James Patter. We have to catch this serial killer.

[Aldous Hodge]

I don't kill for fun.

[Detective Alex Cross]

And created by Ben Watkins, this killer thinks he's the smartest guy in the room. Aldous Hodge is DC's funnest Alex Cross. If we don't find him soon, we may never have another chance.

[Sloan Glass]

Clock's ticking.

[Aldous Hodge]

You think you can stop him?

[Detective Alex Cross]

I know I can because I know him better than he knows himself. Cross a new original series only on Prime Video. Watch now.

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[Aldous Hodge]

You wake up, put on your ray Ban meta glasses.

[Detective Alex Cross]

You're living all in.

[Sloan Glass]

You realize you need coffee so you.

[Meta AI]

Say hey Meta, how do I make.

[Sloan Glass]

A latte through two shots of espresso? After Meta AI gets you caffeinated, you're ready for some beats.

[Meta AI]

Hey Meta Play hip hop music.

[Sloan Glass]

You head to meet some friends but.

[Aldous Hodge]

Can'T remember the place.

[Meta AI]

Hey Meta.

[Sloan Glass]

Call Eva Ray Ban Meta glasses the next generation of AI glasses. Just say hey Meta.

[Detective Alex Cross]

To harness the power of Meta AI.

[Sloan Glass]

Shop now at meta.com smartglasses.