Homicide Victim Cared for Elderly Father

Carlos Atencio is trying to make sense of his 64-year-old colleague and friend's slaying last week in Chimayó.

Atencio said Rudy Montoya wanted to enjoy his retirement by fly fishing, keeping fit and taking care of his elderly father at his home.

But, according to Rio Arriba Sheriff's investigators, Angel Patricia Baldonado, 22, and Sheanee Martinez, 18, murdered him in his home Thursday by beating him with a baseball bat and stabbing him more than 40 times. They say the women then robbed him of a television, a computer and a car in an attempt to get money for drugs. Investigators claim Montoya's own niece, Rhiannon Montoya, 34, although not present during the killing, planned the robbery.

"In a sense, he's gone because of some people who basically need a lot of help," Atencio said.

Montoya and Martinez are each in jail on $ 200,000 bond. Baldonado is in a hospital recovering from injuries sustained when she allegedly tried to burn Rudy Montoya's stolen car, which exploded. The staff at Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court said arraignments could be held today in the case.

Atencio said Rudy Montoya, who held a doctorate degree in education from the University of New Mexico, worked with him as an assistant superintendent in Las Vegas City Schools. They were professional colleagues and became good friends, Atencio said. Later, Atencio brought Rudy Montoya on board as a co-director for the Northern New Mexico Network, the goals of which included increasing teacher and principal effectiveness.

"He was one of my most trusted staff members," Atencio said.

Rudy Montoya's résumé, forwarded to the Journal by one of his colleagues, shows that his educational work also included being the assistant superintendent of Peñasco Independent Schools, an assistant superintendent of elementary schools in Española, a grant writer and a liaison for deaf and blind services.

Ricky Serna, vice president for advancement at Northern New Mexico College, said the nonprofit that Rudy Montoya used to work for had office space there. Serna said that although Montoya wasn't an employee of the college, there would still be counselors available to those who need help coping with the loss.

"In the short time (since the incident), I heard phenomenal things about him," Serna said.

Rudy Montoya was also a Vietnam veteran, who had served in the Navy for two years, according to his obituary. He leaves behind two children and his wife. People reached at Rudy Montoya's home phone number on Monday declined to comment for this story.

Atencio said he will always admire the honesty and trustworthiness of his friend, who worked through his church and was "grounded and at peace with himself."

As in how he cared for his father, Atencio said, Rudy Montoya wanted to be where he was needed. He was looking forward to years of fishing, being out on the river and staying in shape.

"All in all, he was simply wanting to enjoy life," Atencio said. "Unfortunately, it just wasn't to be."

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