SANTA FE, N.M. — Remains found on Caja del Rio Road on April 12, 2026 have been identified as missing man Joel ‘Deano’ Valdez.
Valdez, 36, was last seen in Santa Fe around 5:40 pm on September 18, 2025. He disappeared while on his way back home to Coyote from work in Silver City.
The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
If you have any information regarding the case of Joel Valdez please contact the New Mexico State Police at (505) 841-9256, or Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-7867.
The Disappearance of Joel ‘Deano’ Valdez
On September 18, 2025, Joel “Deano” Valdez was last known to be in Santa Fe, New Mexico around 5:40 pm. He disappeared while on his way back home from work in Silver City, where he was working as a lineman.
At 2:30 pm, Joel texted his wife to say he was leaving Silver City and was headed back home to Coyote.
His credit card statement shows a charge for gas at the Allsup’s on Cerrillos Road around 5:40 pm in Santa Fe, and a cash withdrawal from a nearby Wells Fargo ATM. His family says those two transactions didn’t seem out of the ordinary.
He was driving his 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 with license plate NM 248-THP. Joel never returned home, and hasn’t been heard from since.
His wife reported him missing to the New Mexico State Police on September 21, 2025.
After Joel went missing his family noticed additional charges on his card that raised alarms, including a large gas purchase (enough to fill up multiple vehicles). They cancelled the card after three more purchase attempts were made right after his wife reported him missing on the 21st.
On September 22, 2025, a witness reports seeing Joel’s vehicle, a 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500, in Albuquerque.
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