ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Albuquerque Police Department has made an arrest in connection to a person who was found dead in a home in Northeast Albuquerque on Tuesday.

Leroy Vallegos, 49, was arrested on Wednesday by APD homicide detectives for murdering and partially dismembering his mother, Ernestina Lucero.

Officers were called to Lucero's home for a welfare check on Tuesday after he told a home health care company that he had not seen or heard from his 69-year-old mother.

Vallejos called the company asking to be paid for her care, even though he had not seen her.

When officers made contact with the home located at Rhode Island and Copper N.E., Vallegos allowed officers to search the home. He told officers his mother had gone on vacation to Mexico, but officers found her medication in her

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