With the assistance of the United States Marshal Service and Berwyn Police Department, Howard was arrested on an unrelated warrant on February 5, 2022, in Cicero, IL. FPD detectives traveled to Chicago to interview Howard and further investigate his involvement in Ms. Baier’s death.
From Farmington Police
Friday, April 8, 2022
The Farmington Police Department filed charges against 51-year-old Thomas Howard on March 31, 2022. Howard is charged with 2nd degree murder for the death of Farmington resident Roberta Baier.
On December 6, 2021, officers responded to the 2800 block of East 22nd Street to check on Ms. Baier after her friends reported not hearing from her in several days. After several failed attempts to contact her, officers entered her apartment, where the 65-year-old was found deceased. Ms. Baier’s death was deemed suspicious, and Farmington detectives began a homicide investigation. Detectives identified the suspect as Ms. Baier’s boyfriend, Thomas Howard, and through investigative efforts, detectives discovered he had fled to a suburb of Chicago, IL. With the assistance of the United States Marshal Service and Berwyn Police Department, Howard was arrested on an unrelated warrant on February 5, 2022, in Cicero, IL. FPD detectives traveled to Chicago to interview Howard and further investigate his involvement in Ms. Baier’s death. Howard is currently in custody in Cook County, IL, and is awaiting extradition back to New Mexico, where he faces the charges in connection with Ms. Baier’s homicide.
The Farmington Police Department would like to thank the United States Marshal Service and Berwyn, IL Police Department for their assistance in this case. Anyone with information that may affect this case is encouraged to call the FPD tip line 505-599-1068.
The driver of the red Toyota Supra, 22-year-old Kalynn Kenworthy, was charged with racing on highways. Kenworthy has an extensive history of traffic violations, including citations for racing in August 2025 and in 2023, as well as more than seven speeding citations within the past four years, each averaging more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit. Additional charges are pending against the driver of the white passenger car.
According to court documents, from approximately January 2018 to November 2020, Benally, 48, and his co-conspirators established over 30 farms, covering more than 400 acres, on land obtained from Navajo Nation members. To fund this illegal enterprise, Benally and a co-conspirator traveled to California and created front companies to solicit Chinese investors. These investors were charged cash fees ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 for counterfeit cannabis cultivation licenses.
It was discovered that several individuals had been injured. A juvenile sustained a graze wound, a 16-year-old was shot in the leg, and an 18-year-old was shot in the chest and transported to Albuquerque in critical condition. The vehicle involved in the crash is connected to the shooter. At this time, the shooter has been identified as an 18-year-old male.
As three individuals tried to leave a party, a male subject began shooting, unintentionally striking the vehicle and, subsequently, a passenger inside the vehicle. The passenger was transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center and later transported to UNM in Albuquerque, where she is awake and in stable condition.
Using multiple means of evidence, the driver was identified as Alvin Paul who was driving a 2003 white Chevrolet when he veered off the road, hitting Shirley. Paul did not stop or report the crash and surveillance footage from a nearby business proved Paul as the driver. He later admitted to operating the vehicle carelessly.
At the time of the crash, Paul’s driver’s license was revoked from a prior DWI arrests. He has two prior DWI convictions and is currently on probation for the second DWI.
The Farmington Police Department filed charges against 51-year-old Thomas Howard on March 31, 2022. Howard is charged with 2nd degree murder for the death of Farmington resident Roberta Baier.
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