News Flash

Investigators have identified Estrella Montantez (pictured) as a person of interest in a murder investigation that began Nov. 23 when a local man was found lying outside a house in south Roswell.

Detectives believe Montantez may have key information regarding the death of Jeremy Ridens. The public’s help is sought in providing information that could help police find Montantez so they can speak to her.

Montantez is 19 years old, about 5’3” tall, weighs about 135 pounds, and has brown or black hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo on the left side of her neck and another one on her right arm. The tattoo on her arm reads “Montantez.”

Anyone with potential information regarding the whereabouts of Estrella Montantez, or having any other information about this case, is asked to call the Roswell Police Department at (575) 624-6770 or Chaves County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-594-TIPS(8477).

Ridens was alive when found Nov. 23 about 3 a.m, but he was suffering from multiple injuries. He was transported by emergency medical personnel to a local hospital where he died a short time later.

Initial investigation indicated Ridens’ injuries were possibly inflicted during a physical altercation with one or more subjects while he was in the yard of a house in the 300 block of East Bonney Street. He then made his way to the yard of another house in the same block and collapsed there, investigators believe. Specifics of the nature of Ridens’ injuries are not being released at this time.

Police were responding to the area after residents reported hearing multiple shots fired. One of the callers reported seeing a man lying in front of the caller’s residence.