Serving the High Plains

Two killed in Quay County (updated)

A Quay County teen is in custody after police say he killed his mother and stepsister in their home Monday night outside of Tucumcari.

QCS Photo: Thomas GarciaState Police investigators discuss the crime scene of a reported double homicide at a residence on the 4400 block of Quay Road 63 two miles west of Tucumcari.

New Mexico State Police officials said Tony Day, 14, shot Sue Day and stabbed her daughter, Sherry Folts.

Tony Day is being held at the Quay County Detention Center's juvenile section without bond on two open felony counts of murder, according to Capt. Ryan Suggs.

Suggs said the suspect did not give investigators a reason for his actions.

At 11:30 p.m. Monday, officers responded to a report of a homicide at a residence on 4407 Quay Road 63, said Suggs.

Mike Day, and his son, Scott Day 15, had subdued Tony, when police arrived, Suggs said.

Sue and Mike Day adopted Tony and his brother, who came to the Days as foster children, officials said.

Officials also said a 9-month-old foster child in the residence at the time has since been removed from the home.

Enrique Knell, a Children, Youth and Families Department spokesman, said the Day family had been a CYFD foster family for seven years and in that time they had cared for 80 to 100 children.

Tenth Judicial Chief Deputy District Attorney Tim Rose said if Day is convicted of murder in the first degree, then the court has the authority to impose adult sanctions, which in this case would be two life sentences.

Rose said if the teen is convicted of anything less than first-degree murder the court loses authority to impose adult sanctions. He said by statute juvenile sanctions would apply with a maximum time of detention until age 21.

Rose examined the scene and spoke with state police investigators, who were still processing the scene at 4:30 p.m.

The double killing is the second homicide investigation state police have conducted in Quay County in two months.

In September, Kimberly Draman was reported missing from Tucumcari and her body was later found Oct. 5 by state police investigators with the help of Frank Keller the man charged with killing Draman.

 
 
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