Albuquerque man arrested for 1999 rape after DNA match

An Albuquerque man has been arrested in California on a rape charge stemming from a 1999 attack, more than two decades after the case was opened. Prosecutors say a DNA match from a national database identified Christopher Salazar, now 41, as the suspect in the home invasion rape near Lomas Boulevard and Washington Street.

According to court documents, the woman had fallen asleep on her couch watching television when a man entered her residence through an unlocked door. Police say the man claimed to be armed, put a pillow over her face and raped her.

Salazar was 19 at the time of the attack. He lived in Albuquerque from 1999 to 2002, court documents say, before moving back to Corona, California, near Los Angeles, where he went to high school.

The Albuquerque Police Department said the rape kit was part of the department’s backlog and was eventually tested. In March 2020, APD’s Sex Crimes Unit got a DNA match to Salazar from a national database. His DNA may have been in the system from a 2002 assault case conviction in California.

“We put a lot of time, energy, and emphasis on clearing the backlog and getting those kits tested,” said Raul Torrez, Bernalillo County District Attorney. “But that’s just the beginning. What we’ve effectively done is move the case forward. But there’s a lot of investigative work that still needs to be done. Not only on this case, but on lots of other cases that are like this.”

Torrez said APD worked with police in California to arrest Salazar at his home last month. Last week, Salazar was brought back to New Mexico.

“We look forward to prosecuting the case and frankly engaging with the victim and sharing this important update that finally, we’re going to have a day in court,” Torrez said.

“Anytime you catch a break in a case that is that old, it’s an extraordinary thing,” Torrez said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we identified other victims in other cases that could potentially match this MO but obviously it’s very early in the investigation and I don’t want to speculate about whether or not we can call this a serial,” Torrez said.

According to social media, Salazar owns a plumbing and remodeling business in Corona listed at the same address as his home.

Salazar has a prior conviction from his time in Albuquerque. He was convicted of domestic violence in 1998 as an 18-year-old. The state has filed a motion to keep Salazar behind bars until trial. His jail mugshot is not available because of the ransomware attack on the county.