RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico State Police are continuing to investigate the death of Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield. According to NMSP’s investigation, at around 3 a.m. on April 20, Merrifield’s friend received a call from a woman who explained that she and Merrifield were involved in a minor crash in his patrol vehicle; Merrifield was off-duty at the time.
The friend found the vehicle about a half-mile from Merrifield’s home. Merrifield talked to that friend and told him he was okay. Merrifield returned home with the vehicle, and both the woman and his friend left.
Around 10 a.m., the friend returned to Merrifield’s home after failing to reach him on the phone. When the friend arrived, he found Merrifield unresponsive in the vehicle. Merrifield was declared to be dead at the scene.
An autopsy was performed on Monday, and the results are pending. NMSP is investigating whether or not the sheriff was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.