Clovis Man Sentenced 21 Years for 2022 Mother's Murder

Martin Caballero-Diaz, a 30-year-old man from Clovis, New Mexico, was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the second-degree murder of his 57-year-old mother, Joann Caballero, in 2022. The homicide occurred on August 24, 2022, when police responded to a welfare check and found Joann's body hidden under a pile of clothes, with two fatal gunshot wounds confirmed by autopsy. Ballistics and DNA evidence linked the firearm found at the scene directly to Caballero-Diaz, who was detained without incident. The sentence includes enhancements for Caballero-Diaz being a habitual offender and for discharging a firearm during the crime, requiring him to serve at least 18 years before parole eligibility. During sentencing, family members expressed their grief, emphasizing the profound pain caused by losing a loved one to such violence. The investigation was led by a Major Crimes Unit involving multiple local law enforcement agencies and the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's Office.