APD relaunches Duke City Case Files

ALBUQUERQUE – The Albuquerque Police Department has relaunched the Duke City Case Files, a video series created a few years ago in hopes to help garner tips in unsolved homicides.

After the initial launch of the series in 2021, the Homicide Unit solved four of the seven cases featured.

The first case to be highlighted through the relaunch, is the September 2021 homicide of 22 year-old Brittany Ramirez. Ramirez was left at Presbyterian Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and she left behind a young daughter who was only two at the time of her passing.

“She just loved to love, and her personality was very outgoing, and charismatic… she was everything a mom wanted her child to be,” said Brittany’s mom, Jessica Valdez Ramirez. “Finally, we need some piece, and capture whoever did this because we need to close this chapter in our life.”

The new episode, released April 2, can be viewed on all the department’s social media platforms. All episodes features interviews with the victim’s family and the detectives or command staff who are working the cases.

“Families impacted by homicide are often left with many questions and a lack of closure as their case is being investigated, in the midst of grieving their loved one,” said Chief of Police Harold Medina. “In the last few years we have been dedicated to providing a voice to the families, through the Victims Assistance Unit, and these videos are another way we are showing them we care, and are committed to solving their case.”

"The return of this cold case series is a beacon of hope for the families of victims and a stark reminder that these cases are never closed,” said Commander Kyle Hartsock of the Criminal Investigations Division. “Even the smallest piece of information, something someone may have dismissed at the time, could be the key to unlocking the truth.  We hope Brittany’s case is the first solve we get."

A new case will be featured and released at the beginning of each month.  The videos can be found on APD’s social media platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.

Anyone with information on the cases featured can report anonymously to the Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers at (505)-843-STOP or p3tips.com/531.

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