A missing tenant is found beneath a porch. His landlord now faces murder charge
Albuquerque detectives accuse Jonah Jeter of shooting Robert Debeary and burying him with a bloodied mattress beneath the property.
- Development
- 13 November 2026
- Coverage
- Breaking news
- Current status
- Developing case
- Source record
- 3 verified sources
A family’s missing-person report
Robert Debeary, 52, was reported missing in August after relatives lost contact with him. Debeary had survived several strokes, walked with a limp and stayed in regular touch with family, making the silence unusual. He rented a room from Jonah Jeter in northeast Albuquerque. Relatives later told police they found Jeter clearing belongings from Debeary’s space and noticed a reddish-brown stain on a bed. Jeter allegedly gave conflicting accounts about whether Debeary had been evicted. [1] [2]
Searches uncover blood and silenced phones
A complaint says detectives searched the residence and found blood in a bathroom along with several phones submerged in water. They also traced when Debeary’s own phone stopped functioning. An anonymous caller later reported seeing Jeter digging in the yard and burying boards or other items around the time of the disappearance. Investigators searched Jeter’s vehicle, found firearms and initially arrested him on a separate allegation that he possessed a gun despite a disqualifying felony conviction. [1] [2]
Human-remains dogs alert beneath the porch
On October 27, detectives returned with dogs trained to locate human remains. The animals alerted to loose or sinking ground beneath a porch. Police excavated the area and found Debeary’s body about two feet down, along with a mattress and frame. The Office of the Medical Investigator identified him and determined he had been shot in the head. Physical evidence from the burial, blood testing and firearm examination could be decisive, but its connection to Jeter must be proved in court. [1] [2]
The new charges
Jeter, 33, now faces an open count of murder, three counts of tampering with evidence and aggravated burglary. An open count allows the prosecution to litigate the appropriate degree of homicide as the case develops. The complaint is an investigator’s sworn account supporting probable cause, not a verdict. The defense can challenge the timeline, forensic links, anonymous information and any inference drawn from possession of the property. [1] [2]
What remains unknown
The available reporting did not identify a defense lawyer or a public response from Jeter. A judge was expected to consider whether he should remain detained. Future filings should clarify the prosecution’s theory of motive, the date of death and how the aggravated-burglary count fits a landlord-tenant setting. Debeary’s disability and vulnerability explain his family’s concern, but they should not be used to speculate beyond the evidence. The public record will become more precise as the case moves beyond its first announcement. A police release or complaint is written to explain probable cause; it is not a complete trial record and may omit evidence that helps either side. The Decoder will distinguish each later stage—formal charge, detention ruling, plea, trial, dismissal and sentence—rather than treating arrest as guilt. Names, dates and quotations in this report are tied to the cited sources, and disputed conduct remains attributed. A material update would include a new filing, a verified change in a person’s condition, a defense response or a judicial ruling. Repetition of an unchanged allegation would not be a new development. That standard is particularly important in cases receiving fast national attention, where an early narrative can otherwise harden before evidence is tested. [1] [2]
Sources & further reading
- 2026 homicide statistics and arrest update: Jonah Jeter ↗Albuquerque Police Department · 2026-11-11 · Primary source
- Albuquerque man accused of killing and burying tenant ↗Albuquerque Journal · 2026-11-13
- APD arrests man accused of murdering and burying tenant ↗KOAT · 2026-11-13
Reader comments.
Keep it respectful and relevant to the report. No personal information, harassment or unsupported accusations. Comments are readers’ views.
Loading your sign-in status…