Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office reported Jan. 31 that a Ponderosa resident has been arrested on murder charges.

According to Chief Deputy Allen Mills, deputies responded to a 911 call around noon Jan. 30 by a property owner in Ponderosa, which is 50 minutes from Rio Rancho.

The property owner placed the 911 call and stated that there was a broken window in the small rental home on his property and that a dead person was inside. Deputies confirmed that a deceased male, identified as Joseph William Keleher, 59, was in the home when they arrived.

Keleher was known to area residents as a teacher with the Jemez Valley School District.

The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office arrested David Salazar, age 46, of Ponderosa, and charged him with an open count of murder.

He was booked into the Sandoval County Detention Center in Bernalillo. Salazar is being held at the Sandoval County Detention Center pending arraignment before a judge on Feb. 9.

This is an ongoing story . The Observer will continue to provide updates when they become available.