Police identify homicide victim
A 37-year-old Clovis man is the city’s first homicide of the year.
Clovis police Wednesday identified Clifford Webber as the victim found in a vacant house on 14th Street. His death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy performed by a state medical examiner.
Police responding to a report of a man stabbed in the heart found Webber’s decomposing body Tuesday morning at 317 14th Street. Police said he had been dead more than a day.
Police Chief Steve Sanders said Webber has no known relatives living in Clovis or New Mexico, and police have no information on why Webber was in Clovis.
The last homicide in Clovis was the stabbing of 54-year-old Elizabeth McAdams at her Lea Street home in December 2008.
McAdams’ throat had been slashed and her home set on fire to cover the killing. Aaron M. Quinones, 24, of Clovis was later charged with murder, arson, robbery and tampering with evidence.
Last April, Curry County Sheriff’s deputies discovered the body of 51-year-old truck driver Ronnie Hittson of Tucumcari in a ditch at at Sugarbeet Road and State Road 523. He was beaten to death with a large rock and 24-year-old Brandon Barela of Roswell was later charged in the case.
Sanders declined to offer a motive in the Webber case or to discuss the cause of death. He said a relative was notified of Webber’s death.
Sanders also said several persons of interest and witnesses are being questioned.
No one has been arrested and no charges had been filed as of late Wednesday.
Police Capt. Patrick Whitney said officers responded to the house on 14th after a man called to report an aggravated battery.
Police records show the man, who is being questioned by police, actually said he had information on a person who had “stabbed someone in the heart.”
Police found Webber’s body lying inside the doorway of the home and the area’s Major Crimes Unit was activated.
Whitney said he could not speculate exactly how long Webber’s body lay undiscovered.
The Major Crimes Unit, consisting of the Clovis Police Department, Curry County Sheriff Office, Roosevelt County Sheriff Office and the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, are conducting the investigation.
Anybody have any information may contact Curry County Crime Stoppers at 575-769-7000.
