Officials: Double-murder suspect returning to New Mexico

The Texas man accused of killing two Texico women in Ned Houk Park on May 3 will be returning to New Mexico to face federal charges, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Alek Collins, 26, of Houston, appeared before a federal judge in Abilene, Texas, on Tuesday morning on a charge of interstate kidnapping in connection with the slayings of Harley Cisneros and Taryn Allen.

Collins also is accused of critically injuring Cisneros’ 5-year-old daughter and kidnapping Cisneros’ 10-month-old baby.

Following the court hearing, according to the news release, it was determined Collins will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending his transfer to New Mexico for further proceedings.

Clovis District Attorney Quentin Ray said he is not sure where Collins will be jailed. The federal charges were filed in Bernalillo County.

The date of Collins' return to New Mexico was not immediately clear.

Court records released Tuesday also detailed how police in Abilene arrested Collins early on the morning of May 6.

Records show police had tracked Collins to a residence in Abilene using a GPS system on his rented vehicle.

According to court records:

“(W)hile law enforcement was preparing to execute a search warrant at the residence, they observed an Uber driver operating a Cadillac SUV arrive on the street in front of the home.

“A black male, later determined to be Collins, exited the residence carrying a baby. He placed the baby on the rear passenger seat of the SUV and got into the front passenger seat. Collins then carjacked the Uber driver at gunpoint, forcing the driver to exit the vehicle, after which Collins drove away in the Cadillac with the child.

“Law enforcement officers of the Abilene Police Department Narcotics Unit pursued and pinned the Cadillac, forcing it to a stop. The male driver was arrested and identified to be Collins. The baby was recovered safely.”

We’ll have more information in Sunday’s newspaper.