RUDY ESTEBAN BACA arrested for lashing out and attacking two of his mother’s dogs

- New Mexico, USA -

The Las Cruces Police Department arrested 25-year-old RUDY ESTEBAN BACA (pictured).

On April 14, 2026, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1020 block of Moon River Loop for a report of “shots fired”.

On arrival, responding officers found BACA and his mother barricaded inside the residence.

Officers later learned from BACA that he had had a “mental breakdown” after seeing a mess in the house, which he blamed his “mother’s hoarding” for. At that point, BACA “snapped” and took out his anger on his mother’s dogs, Skunky and Whippy.

Officers reviewed home surveillance video which showed BACA throwing Skunky at the TV in the living room and Whippy against a table. Skunky and Whippy can be clearly heard yelping and crying in pain.

While BACA was attacking Skunky and Whippy, his mother wasn’t home, she had gone to the store. BACA called her and said: “you might be mad”.

The mother told officers that when she returned home from the store, she found another of her dogs, Gizmo, outside the home, and feces on the floor inside the home.

BACA was arrested and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center on two felony counts of extreme cruelty to animals.

At the time of writing, records show that BACA is no longer in custody. According to court records, BACA is set to appear in Las Cruces Magistrate Court on May 27, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Jannette A. Mondragon.

Police shared the video in question and advised that “.... the dogs are in good condition and are recovering”.

###

Voice For Us Disclaimer: Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

For more animal cruelty stories, please click here. Thank you!