NMSP Investigating Death Of Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield

Courtesy of The Los Alamos Reporter

NMSP NEWS RELEASE
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On April 20, 2025, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was requested to investigate the off-duty death of Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield at 4759A NM Highway 96 in Abiquiu, NM.

Investigations Bureau agents learned through interviews that on April 20, 2025, at approximately 3:00 a.m., a friend of Sheriff Merrifield received a phone call from a woman who stated she was with Sheriff Merrifield, and they were involved in a minor crash in his government issued patrol vehicle while he was off-duty.

According to the friend, he located Sheriff Merrifield’s patrol unit approximately half a mile from his residence. When the friend spoke to him, Sheriff Merrifield stated he was OK. The patrol vehicle and Sheriff Merrifield were taken back to his residence. After they arrived at the residence, Sheriff Merrifield’s friend and the woman left the residence, leaving Sheriff Merrifield in his patrol vehicle.

The friend told investigators that later that morning, around 10:00 a.m., after several unsuccessful phone call attempts, he went to Sheriff Merrifield’s house to check on him. When he arrived, he found Sheriff Merrifield unresponsive in his patrol unit. He called 911 and began CPR until paramedics arrived on scene and took over lifesaving efforts, which were unsuccessful. Sheriff Merrifield was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

The Investigations Bureau continues to work to corroborate all the information received from the witnesses in this investigation. An autopsy was performed on Monday, April 21, 2025. The cause of death remains under investigation and autopsy results are pending. The possibility of the Sheriff being under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or drug is being investigated.

This incident remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau.