ALCALDE, N.M. (AP) - After issuing an appeal for help, state police received a tip Sunday that led to the arrest of a man accused of shooting to death two teen-agers making a spiritual pilgrimage to a church where thousands of people hope for miracles.
Carlos Herrera, 19, was arrested at a friend's home around 2:40 a.m., state police Sgt. Royleen Ross-Weaver said.
Ross-Weaver said Herrera was an acquaintance of the 17-year-old shooting victims, high school sweethearts Richard Martinez and Karen Castanon. She did not elaborate. The teens' bodies were found Friday.
''We received bits and pieces from different people, put it together and started pursuing the information,'' Ross-Weaver said. ''We were able to develop the suspect and we also have physical evidence linking him to the crime.''
She wouldn't comment on a motive.
Ray Martinez, father of the slain boy, said his son did not associate with Herrera.
The arrest gave only brief comfort on a painful Easter, he said.
''These kids were beautiful. They were drug-free, alcohol-free, like peanut butter and jelly,'' he said.
The teen-agers were among thousands of pilgrims making the annual spiritual trek to the Santuario de Chimayo, a small Roman Catholic church in the village of Chimayo that is said to contain healing dirt.
