Arrests Made in Attempted Murder of Bloomfield Teen

Epifanio “Eppie” Montoya

The victim relayed that once he was bound, Dietrick started to heat up an 8” round piece of metal with a blow torch and repeatedly rolled it across his back while both Eppie and Dietrick kept repeating that they were going to kill him.  The victim relayed that they put a plastic grocery style bag over his nose and mouth trying to suffocate him.  At one point while the bag was on his face, Eppie said “Will you just die already?”   Eppie and Dietrick eventually untied the victim and told him if he told anyone what happened that they would kill him.  They also said if he wanted his phones b

From the San Juan County Sheriffs Office:

On October 4, 2016, deputies with San Juan County Sheriff’s Office were notified that a 17 year old male was beaten and robbed in hills North of Bloomfield. 

The victim stated that he had $600 and wanted to buy some “hash”, he met with some people he knew who were going to add money to help buy the drugs.  The victim was picked up and taken to the hills North of Bloomfield where he started to get nervous.  The driver (18 year-old, Epifanio “Eppie” Montoya) said they were just going to smoke marijuana prior to going.  When they got to the hills, 16 year-old Dietrick Franklin, had Eppie stop and he got out of the vehicle.  Eppie then reached around and stabbed the victim in the leg.   Dietrick then started to yell for the victim to get out of the vehicle while he was also holding a knife. 

Once out of the vehicle, Eppie and Dietrick took two cell phones and $600 in cash off of him.  Dietrick then started to bind the victim with ratchet straps while Eppie held a knife to his throat. 

The victim relayed that once he was bound, Dietrick started to heat up an 8” round piece of metal with a blow torch and repeatedly rolled it across his back while both Eppie and Dietrick kept repeating that they were going to kill him. 

The victim relayed that they put a plastic grocery style bag over his nose and mouth trying to suffocate him.  At one point while the bag was on his face, Eppie said “Will you just die already?”  

Eppie and Dietrick eventually untied the victim and told him if he told anyone what happened that they would kill him.  They also said if he wanted his phones back he was to bring them $300 the next day.   

Eppie and Dietrick were located at their house and were taken into custody. 

Detectives obtained a warrant for Epifanio “Eppie” Montoya of Lee Acres, NM, for Abuse of a child (resulting in great bodily harm) (1^st degree), Kidnapping (1^st degree), Armed Robbery (2^nd degree), Extortion (3^rd degree) and Intimidation of a witness (3^rd degree).  Eppie was booked into San Juan County Detention Center with a $500,000.00 cash only bond.

Dietrick Franklin of Lee Acres, NM,  was booked into San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center on Kidnapping (1^st degree), Attempted Murder (2^nd degree), Armed Robbery (2^nd degree), Intimidation of a witness (3^rd degree) and Extortion (3^rd degree).