4 Bodies Found in Car Pulled From Lake

COCHITI LAKE, N.M. (KRQE) - New Mexico State Police have found at least four sets of human remains inside a car that was pulled out of in Cochiti Lake.

State Police said two days ago the department got a report from the owner of a pickup truck, stating that he thought his truck went into the lake.

So officers started searching the lake on Wednesday, and that's when they found a Ford four-door sedan under the water.

They arranged to have the car removed Thursday, and in the process of pulling it out, they found human bones.

State Police Lt. Eric Garcia said he believes the car has been in the lake for "over a year, at least." He said the car has been submerged for so long that there are fishhook marks in the side of the vehicle from recreational fishers at the lake.

Police discovered through the license plate and id number that the car is linked to a missing persons case, related to a custody fight back in 2001 in Albuquerque.

That fact has Albuquerque Police on scene as well.

"The state police advised they found a vehicle of our probable offender. That's what we're doing here. See if we can close out that case with this investigation," Albuquerque Police Officer Nadine Hamby said.

State Police obtained a search warrant and are currently in the process of examining the car. The Office of the Medical is on scene, according to Garcia.

As for the truck that officers were originally looking for, it was never found.

State Police said they are treating the area on the lake as a crime scene, and that it could take days before they can positively identify the bodies.