SJCSO Charges Suspect in 2021 Homicide

San Juan County, NM – The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office has charged Francisco Vasquez Jr for a homicide that occurred in 2021.   Vasquez, age 28 is being charged with Murder in the 1st degree (1st degree felony) and Possession of firearm or destructive device by a felon (4^th degree felony).

On August 9, 2021, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a residence on County Road 3400 at 7:59am for an apparent homicide.  As deputies and detectives arrived on scene, they discovered 56-year-old William (Billy) Dixon deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.  After conducting numerous search warrants and interviews, detectives exhausted all leads and were not able to identify a suspect.

In 2023, as new evidence and witness statements surfaced, SJCSO detectives were able to obtain statements from two witnesses, naming Francisco Vasquez as the shooter on the morning of August 9, 2021.  Some time after the homicide, Vasquez moved to Arizona where he was arrested on other charges and is currently in prison.  During an interview, SJCSO detectives were able to obtain a confession from Vasquez for the murder of Billy Dixon.

Investigations Captain Kevin Burns had the following statement, “We are very proud of the hard work put in by our detectives to solve this brutal crime. The investigation and arrest are a testament to the ceaseless effort by these detectives to hold this menace accountable.”