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United States of America v. Brayden Matthew Alvarado
Date: 06-04-2026
Case Number: 3:24-cr-00161
Judge: David C Guaderrama
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (El Paso County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Lori Hughes, Mallory Rasmussen, Patricia Acosta
Defendant's Attorney: Art Werge and Joe Veith
Description:
El Paso, Texas, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with kidnapping resulting in death.
Reported by Kent Morlan
Brayden Matthew Alvarado, 23, of Vado, New Mexico, carjacked a man before driving him onto Fort Bliss desert property and fatally shooting him in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun in 2023.
On Dec. 13, 2023, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division conducted a crime scene investigation and collected the body of a deceased individual. Two days later, an autopsy identified the individual as Abel Patrick Tarin, who had previously been reported missing by the Las Cruces Police Department and Dona Ana Sheriff’s Office.
Tarin’s vehicle was subsequently located, having been towed and impounded in El Paso. A search of the vehicle resulted in blood evidence and the discovery of a gunshot hole on the interior, as well as several fingerprints belonging to Alvarado. Further investigation led to Alvarado’s arrest on Dec. 22, 2023.
Alvarado was indicted on Jan. 17, 2024. On Aug. 14, 2025, a federal jury found him guilty of kidnapping resulting in death and carjacking resulting in death. The kidnapping conviction carries a mandatory life in prison penalty.
The FBI, Army CID, El Paso Police Department, and Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Reported by Kent Morlan
Brayden Matthew Alvarado, 23, of Vado, New Mexico, carjacked a man before driving him onto Fort Bliss desert property and fatally shooting him in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun in 2023.
On Dec. 13, 2023, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division conducted a crime scene investigation and collected the body of a deceased individual. Two days later, an autopsy identified the individual as Abel Patrick Tarin, who had previously been reported missing by the Las Cruces Police Department and Dona Ana Sheriff’s Office.
Tarin’s vehicle was subsequently located, having been towed and impounded in El Paso. A search of the vehicle resulted in blood evidence and the discovery of a gunshot hole on the interior, as well as several fingerprints belonging to Alvarado. Further investigation led to Alvarado’s arrest on Dec. 22, 2023.
Alvarado was indicted on Jan. 17, 2024. On Aug. 14, 2025, a federal jury found him guilty of kidnapping resulting in death and carjacking resulting in death. The kidnapping conviction carries a mandatory life in prison penalty.
The FBI, Army CID, El Paso Police Department, and Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Outcome:
The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Brayden Matthew Alvarado?
The outcome was: The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.
Which court heard United States of America v. Brayden Matthew Alvarado?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (El Paso County), TX. The presiding judge was David C Guaderrama.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Brayden Matthew Alvarado?
Plaintiff's attorney: Lori Hughes, Mallory Rasmussen, Patricia Acosta. Defendant's attorney: Art Werge and Joe Veith.
When was United States of America v. Brayden Matthew Alvarado decided?
This case was decided on June 4, 2026.