Heather Rae Fernandez-Hoefer (Courtesy: San Juan County Adult Detention Center)
After a thorough and ongoing investigation by detectives and working with the district attorney's office, a thorough review of the case was conducted, and the decision to proceed with criminal charges was made. A warrant was issued to charge Heather Fernandez-Hoefer. She was taken into custody without incident on April 1, 2025.
From Farmington Police Department:
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
The Farmington Police Department has arrested and charged Heather Fernandez-Hoefer (51) with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with a 2020 homicide.
On November 29, 2020, officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of South Ivie Avenue regarding a report of an unresponsive individual. Upon arrival, officers discovered Robert Hoefer (49) deceased from three apparent stab wounds. Heather Fernandez-Hoefer, who made the 911 call, provided conflicting statements during the initial investigation.
After a thorough and ongoing investigation by detectives and working with the district attorney's office, a thorough review of the case was conducted, and the decision to proceed with criminal charges was made. A warrant was issued to charge Heather Fernandez-Hoefer. She was taken into custody without incident on April 1, 2025.
The Farmington Police Department continues to investigate this case. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Farmington Police Department Detectives at 505-599-1068.
Upon arrival, officers observed a male and female walking who matched the provided descriptions. Officers gave commands for Leon Quintana (27) to place his hands on his head and walk backward toward them.
During the encounter, Mr. Quintana hesitated and shifted his movements while officers continued giving commands. He then produced a firearm and fired a shot toward officers, striking an officer’s patrol car. A second shot was also fired.
A complex investigation began, tracking Ms. Salazar across multiple states with cooperation from several law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, that concluded last week when Ms. Salazar was arrested on her warrant and the child was returned to New Mexico where he is now with Mr. West.
The agreement authorizes NDOT to transfer $2,790,647 to NMDOT to administer procurement and construction of the NM371/N36 Intersection Improvement Project. This long-needed project will include roadway widening and the installation of a traffic signal and lighting system designed to reduce accidents, improve traffic flow, and enhance overall public safety for residents, school buses, emergency responders, and travelers who rely on this heavily used corridor.
The move will not affect the 2026 racing season in San Juan County. Live racing is scheduled for April 17 – May 24, 2026.
San Juan County has previously said that McGee Park and the San Juan County Fairgrounds would not be impacted by any changes at the casino and horse racing track.
The suspect, John Hannon, the child’s father, was arrested on 2/9/26 on unrelated charges. He was served with the following charges while at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center: