In 2009, investigators searching a desert area outside Albuquerque, New Mexico uncovered a hidden burial ground.
Eleven women and one unborn child had been buried across the West Mesa over a period of years.
Many of the victims had disappeared long before the graves were discovered.
Some struggled with addiction. Some lived unstable lives. And several families spent years searching for answers before realizing the cases might be connected.
Despite one of the largest investigations in Albuquerque history, no one has ever been charged.
This is the story of the West Mesa Bone Collector.
Sources:
Albuquerque Police Department case materials
FBI and New Mexico missing persons records
Archived reporting from KRQE, KOAT, and local New Mexico media
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