Man Charged for 2019 Double Murder in Taos Pueblo

ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Joshua Gonzales made an initial appearance in federal court on an indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. Gonzales, 37, will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday, November 24, 2023.

According to court records, Gonzales and his girlfriend had been staying at the home of John Doe 1. On May 30, 2019, Gonzales assaulted his girlfriend while they were near the home. Gonzales’ girlfriend told John Doe 1 about the assault and left the home, leaving Gonzales and John Doe 1 alone. When John Doe 1 questioned Gonzales about the assault, Gonzales attacked John Doe 1. During that assault, Gonzales bludgeoned John Doe 1’s body and head, brutally killing him.

Moments later, John Doe 2 arrived at John Doe 1’s house.  John Doe 1 had previously called John Doe 2, likely seeking help, which is what prompted John Doe 2 to go over to the residence.  Gonzales exited John Doe 1’s house and proceeded to beat John Doe 2, who was only days into recovery from a hip surgery, in the driveway, also brutally killing him.  Defendant then took John Doe 2’s body inside and stacked both men’s bodies in John Doe 1’s house, then placed a roll of metal fence on top of the bodies. Gonzales then left the home and locked the door behind him with a padlock on the exterior of the doors.

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Gonzales faces life in prison.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander F. Flores and Matthew J. McGinley are prosecuting the case.

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