Federal Kidnapping Charge Dropped for Ned Houk Park Killer

A federal court dismissed the kidnapping charge against Alek Collins on Oct. 30, ending the only federal case arising from the May 2024 killings of two women in Clovis. The dismissal was issued without prejudice, meaning prosecutors retain the ability to refile the case if Collins later regains the capacity to stand trial.

The court order cites Collins' civil commitment as the reason for the dismissal. Collins, who was 26 when the attacks occurred, has been held in a federal mental hospital near Boston since his arrest on May 6, 2024. A judge ordered his commitment after determining he was incompetent to stand trial. According to Amy Jo Robinson, the mother of victim Taryn Allen, prosecutors informed her several months ago that the dismissal was likely because eight months of medication for schizophrenia had not stabilized Collins.

Collins is accused of shooting and killing Harley Cisneros and Taryn Allen, both 23, at Ned Houk Park. Cisneros' five year old daughter, Sofia, was shot at the scene but survived. Her ten month old daughter, Eleia Maria Torres, was taken from the park. The toddler was located in Abilene, Texas, along with Collins, days after the slayings. The two women were lifelong friends from Texico, and officials found no prior connection between them and Collins.

Collins had filed murder charges in Curry County Magistrate Court in May 2024, but those were dismissed to allow federal prosecution. The federal government only charged him with kidnapping. Now that the federal case is closed, local families are urging Curry County prosecutors to refile the murder charges. Laura Robinson, Cisneros' mother, stated that her family learned of the dismissal through social media and news reports rather than direct communication from the district attorney's office.

Robinson said the family wants the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's Office to refile charges and pursue the case in Curry County. She emphasized that the family wants to hear the evidence in court and wants prosecutors to keep them informed about the status of the man responsible for the deaths. Quentin Ray, the district attorney in Clovis, did not immediately respond to questions about next steps.

Records show Collins contacted the FBI twice in October 2023, threatening to kill people and children if the agency did not help find his missing five year old daughter. Agents conducted a mental health evaluation after the threats. Collins told agents he did not want to kill people but felt the threat was necessary to get assistance. Officials are not certain if the missing daughter, whom he identified as Rebecca, ever existed.

In early May 2024, Collins was living near Houston. He drove to Clovis and encountered the victims near a Dollar Tree on Prince Street before arriving at the park. The federal kidnapping charge was the sole accusation brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Hartstein and U.S. Public Defender Emily Carey declined to comment on the dismissal on Tuesday.