Trial begins in 2018 slaying

PORTALES - Trial began Monday for a man charged with murder in connection with the April 19, 2018, death of Erika Zamorano in Portales.

Jury selection took much of the day and ended with the designation of 10 men and four women, including two alternates. The jury heard an opening argument from prosecutors and testimony from three individuals before concluding that afternoon for the day.

Gerardo Marquez, 35, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on a charge of second-degree murder. He is represented by attorney Dan Lindsey in the court of Judge Donna Mowrer.

Deputy District Attorney Quentin Paul Ray said in his opening statement that Zamorano, 32, a mother of two, was found dead inside a residence on the 900 block of East Second Street from a single .45 caliber gunshot wound to the head. Her body was discovered about 9:45 p.m. on April 19, 2018, according to court records.

Bullet casings matching that ammunition were found the next day in Marquez's truck and on his person, Ray told the jury.

Prosecutors described the victim as Marquez' girlfriend.

Court records show Marquez repeatedly told his mother, on the night Zamorano was found dead, that "he screwed up and instructed her to inform his children he loved them," according to an arrest affidavit.

Lindsey reserved his opening argument for later in the trial.

As testimony proceeded the jury heard audio from the initial 911 call reporting the discovery of Zamorano unresponsive, and a crime scene photograph from investigators. Portales Police Officer Bryan Gore was the first responding officer on scene and found Zamorano inside the residence with a "large pool of blood beneath her."

On cross-examination of Gore, Lindsey took issue with the preservation of the crime scene and attempted to pinpoint exactly how many officers and emergency personnel entered the scene. Gore testified it was his first homicide case.

The last testimony on stand Monday came from Armando Galvan, who said his cousin contacted him to rent a room at a Clovis motel the night Zamorano was found dead. He said he knew Marquez to have the "street name" of "Little Loc,'" and that he saw his cousin and Marquez that night in Clovis. Court records show Galvan bought the room for them but did not stay with them, and state police detained the pair on April 20, 2018.

Deputy District Attorney Jake Boazman is also prosecuting the case this week, which is scheduled through Friday.