Landlord accused of killing tenant, burying body in yard
By Amari Saxton
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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — The Albuquerque Police Department has arrested a man accused of murdering a tenant and burying his body.
Jonah Jeter, 33, is charged in the August murder of Robert Debeary, 52.
Jeter is accused of fatally shooting Debeary on Aug. 12, 2026, and burying him in the yard of a residence in the 200 block of Alcazar Street NE, near Central Avenue and Louisiana Boulevard.
Debeary’s family reported him missing in August after last hearing from him on Aug. 11.
Homicide detectives took over the investigation after receiving an anonymous tip implicating Jeter in Debeary’s disappearance.
Search warrants were issued for Jeter’s home and car in Northeast Albuquerque in October. He was later arrested for possessing stolen firearms in his car.
Detectives later searched the residence on Alcazar Street that Jeter rented to tenants, including Debeary. On Oct. 27, human remains were found about two feet underground in a small area of the yard.
An autopsy identified the remains as Debeary’s and determined that he had sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
Detectives continued to investigate the death and charged Jeter today with an open count of murder, three counts of tampering with evidence and aggravated burglary. He is in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
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