1999-10-25 Wunch, Jacqueline

On October 15, 1999, Jacqueline Wunch, 54, was reported missing by her employer. An investigation was conducted into Ms. Wunch’s disappearance, but she was not located.

On October 29, 1999, the body of a female was found floating in large irrigation run off ditch in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. This unknown female was a murder victim.

In October 2004, Bill Peters with the Cold Case squad in Bernalillo County felt that body might be Ms. Wunch. DNA obtained from a family member was compared to the unknown victim in New Mexico, and she was positively identified as Ms. Wunch in late 2005.

After a joint investigation conducted with Bernalillo County, several suspects who stayed at the Broncho Motel in Amarillo during the time of Ms. Wunch’s disappearance were identified as possible suspects in her death.

On April 5, 2006, a warrant was issued charging Narciso Cuellar, 40, with the murder of Ms. Wunch.

In May of 2006, Cuellar was arrested in Modesto, California. During the course of the investigation information was obtained that implicated him in this murder. Cuellar is currently serving time in a California prison on an unrelated charge and will be extradited back to Amarillo upon his release. A trial date has not yet been set on this case.