Check
for live coverage of Marino “Reno” Leyba Jr.’s trial, which begins April 21 at the 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe.
Leyba, 23, is charged with the murder last year of his pregnant, 17-year-old girlfriend, Sarah Lovato, and her father, Bennie Lovato Sr.
It was among the earliest high-profile domestic violence cases in a year with many such crimes; SFR
the long criminal history of Leyba’s family to show how many warning signs authorities had missed [SFReporter.com: “Behind Closed Doors”].
On April 19, the Santa Fe Police Department announced it was looking for a material witness in the case: John G Leyba, 20 years old, 5’6” and 135 pounds. He may be driving a light green 1994 Honda, New Mexico license plate No. KWT842.
“He was one of the persons that Marino had called after the shooting and told that he had shot Sarah,” Detective Tony Trujillo tells SFR. “So obviously, we want him for trial.”
