At this year’s Red Umbrella Day I learned that the West Mesa murders were now a cold case. My first thought was that NO this couldn’t be true. But sadly it is. Checking the Albuquerque Police link on the murders confirms. Damnit!

The most recent news I could find was this story. From KRQE:
Serial murder case on business cards
“A unique new business card is about to go into circulation that detectives hope will help find the killer of the 11 women found buried on Albuquerque’s west mesa in 2009.

The 2-year-old case has seen a lot of publicity since the first bone was discovered by a woman walking her dog. It’s even been broadcast on a national television show.

This will be the first time that the serial murder case is printed on a business card.”

On one hand I’m glad the Albuquerque Police is still trying to solve these murders. On the other hand I can’t help but think how much the APD itself has hurt the case. How? The Southwest Companions bust that’s how.

NM escorts and prostitutes have lost business and now can’t even trust each other because they fear one of their own may now be an informant. But most importantly a site that gave them the ability to verify a client’s reputation is now gone. This bust didn’t magically make prostitution disappear in New Mexico. I think it just makes these women take more risks to make money.

If one of these women has information about the case can we really expect her to confide in a police department that says it cares about the West Mesa victims but is putting living sex workers lives at risk by shutting down SW Companions? I don’t think so.

We will remember the West Mesa victims. And we will continue to hope for justice.

Posted by Vixen in News, Sex Workers