Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre

A Quiet Morning in Las Cruces

On the morning of February 10, 1990, the Las Cruces Bowl in southern New Mexico was preparing to open for the day. It was just before 9 a.m. a time when the building was typically quiet. Inside were a small group of employees and family members, including several children who had come along that morning.

Nothing about the routine suggested that the bowling alley was about to become the site of one of New Mexico’s most haunting unsolved crimes.

Artist’s impression based on suspect descriptions released by investigators. Not an original police composite.

The Robbery

Two armed men entered the bowling alley shortly before opening. They quickly took control of the building and forced seven people into a small office area. The victims ranged in age from two years old to adults.

The attackers demanded access to the bowling alley’s safe. Investigators later determined that several thousand dollars were taken, though not all available cash was removed. The robbery itself appeared rushed and disorganized.

What followed was far more deliberate.

The Shooting

Inside the office, the two gunmen shot all seven victims at close range. After the shooting, they set the office on fire, apparently in an attempt to destroy evidence and ensure no one survived.

The attackers then fled the scene, leaving the victims behind.

Four people later died from their injuries:

• Steven Teran, a bowling alley employee

• Valerie Teran, Steven Teran's two-year-old daughter, who later died at the hospital

• Paula Holguin, age 6

• Amy Houser, age 13

The Survivors

Three victims survived, despite suffering critical injuries.

Among them was 12-year-old Melissia Repass, who had been shot multiple times. Despite her injuries, she managed to crawl to a phone and call 911, providing the first report of the attack.

Her mother, Stephanie Senac, the bowling alley manager, also survived the initial shooting but sustained severe injuries. She later died in 1999, with her death attributed to complications stemming from the attack.

The third survivor, Ida Holguin, a bowling alley cook, also provided information to investigators.

Their survival gave law enforcement something many mass-casualty cases never have: living eyewitnesses.

The Investigation

Using descriptions provided by the survivors, investigators created composite sketches of two male suspects. The men were described as Hispanic, possibly in their twenties, and wearing distinctive clothing. The sketches were released to the public and widely circulated.

Despite early tips and significant public attention, no arrests were made.

Over the years, investigators pursued multiple leads. Some suspects were questioned. Others were ruled out. Advances in forensic testing, including later DNA analysis, failed to produce a match in any known databases.

The fire set inside the office damaged the crime scene and limited the amount of physical evidence that could be recovered.

A Case Without Resolution: Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre

More than three decades later, the case remains officially unsolved.

No one has been charged. No trial ever took place. The surviving witnesses were left without answers, and the families of the victims never saw accountability.

The case remains open, and authorities continue to request information from the public.

Why the Case Still Haunts Investigators

The Las Cruces Bowling Alley Massacre stands out not only for its brutality, but for what followed.

There were witnesses. There were suspect sketches. There was a clear timeline.

And yet, there was no resolution.

It remains one of New Mexico’s most disturbing unsolved crimes, a reminder that even when people survive and speak, justice is not guaranteed.