Wife of murder victim feels she is being ignored

June 27, 2005 - 12:00 AM

Murders Update: 3:30 p.m.

The wife of Luis Rios, the Yuma man who was one of six people murdered Friday night, says that she has been ignored by authorities.

"I've been feeling left out of this whole ordeal," Rebecca Rios of Yuma said. "Nobody's called me. I had to call the police myself. I feel left out of it."

Rebecca said that she and Luis have been married for 12 years and have one child together. Although Luis had begun seeing Adrienne Heredia, Rebecca was still hoping for a reconciliation.

Records in Yuma County Superior Court show that paperwork had recently been filed for a dissolution of the couple's marriage.

She said that the two were separated and that around the first of the year Luis, a partner at RC Liquor, 101 E. 24th St., had told her about his relationship with Heredia.

Heredia and her four children were murdered in their home at 2037 E. La Mesa St. Luis was found shot in the backyard of the home. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Rebecca and Luis have a 9-year-old daughter and Luis had helped to raise Rebecca's 16-year-old daughter since the girl was 5 years old. Rebecca said that the girls would first hear of Luis's death from her Monday.

The 9-year-old daughter often played together with Adrienne's children, Rebecca said.

Even if things were not going well in their relationship, Rebecca said she and Luis always talked and always got along. While she was aware that Luis was with Adrienne, Rebecca said she did not even know Adrienne's last name. Rebecca said she does not know the Heredia family.

While she hopes police get to the bottom of the case, Rebecca said she does not know what happened to her husband and the other five in the house.

"There's all kinds of stories out there," she said. "Who's to say what happened?"

Since Luis was in the backyard, Rebecca said it was likely that he was cooking out.

As to what the police have told her, Rebecca said it was very little.

"I go by the press conference on TV," she said. 'It's devastating to hear on the news. It's my husband, and I have a child I have to break the news to."

Rebecca said she had spoken with police Saturday but had little contact since then.