Tuesday, March 11, 2025 I MELVIN CORDELL was held without bond in a pre-trial detention hearing on Monday, March 10th ,by Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Jennifer DeLaney.

District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced. Cordell is charged with a total of 24 counts for sexual assault and child abuse; 2 Counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration, 1 Count of Criminal Sexual Contact of a minor, 16 Counts of Child Abuse,1 Count of Conspiracy to Commit Child Abuse, 2 Counts of Aggravated Battery and 2 counts of Tampering with Evidence. Melvin Cordell pleaded no contest in the detention hearing.

VALERIE CORDELL was held without bond, on March 3, 2025. Both parents are awaiting trial in the Luna County Detention Center.

New Mexico State Police had been alerted to a case of sexual assault of a child that led to an investigation of abuse involving seven children found living in deplorable conditions on a semi-remote property in Luna County.

On October 23, 2024, New Mexico State Police Investigators were first informed about a report of criminal sexual acts involving a minor at 225 Opatah Road in Luna County. On February 21, 2025, two adults, Melvin Cordell and Valerie Cordell were arrested. The 7 children ranging in age from six months to sixteen years old were placed in protective custody with the state.

Authorities were originally alerted about a child who was sexually assaulted since she was 13, over the course of 4 years by her father. During the 4-month investigation, agents learned that the family of 9 was living on a 35-acre site, located in a semi-rural portion of Luna County, near Deming. Investigating officers described it as an inhumane, squalid scene. A dilapidated trailer, several unlivable camping trailers, broken-down vehicles, boxes of rotting food, bags of trash, along with buckets located all around the property filled with human feces.

The children were found in filthy conditions, they lived outside, year-round, sleeping on a mattress in a semi-underground cave, with tunnels from 4 to 6 feet in length or they took shelter in the broken-down vehicles.

The Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman Wheelers’ office serves the communities in Hildago, Grant and Luna counties located in the Southwestern portion of the State of New Mexico. His office is committed to serving those who encounter our criminal justice system and protecting those communities from criminal behavior.