A call for a welfare check turned tragic after two deceased persons were discovered in a Mentmore residence by Gallup Police.

GPD Officer Clarissa Morgan was dispatched to the Love’s Truck Stop at 3306 W. Hwy. 66 in the afternoon of Feb. 2 after being advised of a calling party trying to reach their daughter.

Morgan met the calling party and was told he was looking for his stepdaughter, Erica Platero, who had not been seen or heard from since Jan. 31. The caller stated he had gone to Platero’s residence, and despite the vehicles being in the driveway there was no answer at the door.

If Platero was not located, the family said they wanted to register Platero as a missing person. Morgan followed the caller to Platero’s residence on the 3400 block of Blue Hill Avenue.

After arriving at the residence, Morgan met with Platero’s mother, who told her she had last contacted her daughter through a text message on Jan. 28. She then later tried to call Platero on Jan. 31 but did not receive an  answer nor did she receive any follow-up call, which she noted was unusual.

Morgan was also told Platero owned a business in Fort Defiance, Ariz., and was not seen there either. Staff at the business needed some checks signed so they were trying to contact Platero to no avail.

The mother told Morgan that Platero often stayed with her boyfriend of two years, Abram Wilson, 45. He worked with the Navajo Department of Transportation. But when she contacted the department to locate Wilson, she was told he had not reported to the office for three days.

Platero and Wilson reportedly had an “on-and-off relationship” as well as a history of domestic disputes and violence. The family had stopped at the residence before and did not receive any answer to their knocks at the door. The curtains had all been closed, so they were not able to look inside.

Morgan then approached the residence and saw two packages on the front porch as well as the porch lights still turned on. The packages were addressed to Wilson and Platero, and one had been delivered the day prior on Feb. 1. Morgan knocked on the door to the residence and heard a dog barking.

She looked through a window on the door and saw a person’s legs and feet positioned as though someone were lying on their stomach. Despite several more knocks and rings of the doorbell there was still no response.

Gallup Sgt. John Gonzales was informed of the incident, and Lt. Mark Spencer was dispatched to the scene. The officer made entry into the residence where the grim sight was revealed in the living room.

A female was found on the couch with a gunshot wound to her head and the man was found lying on the floor, also with a gunshot wound to his head. A black shotgun was found underneath him. Gallup Fire Fighter Andres Garcia confirmed both persons were dead.

Due to the fatal injuries sustained by both victims, Gallup Police examined their fingerprints to help identify them. The results confirmed their identifies as Wilson and Platero.

A small dog was found by police in a kennel near the living room. The report did not state where the dog was taken after the discovery.

Gallup detectives and Richard Malone, from the Office of the Medical Investigator, arrived to process the scene.

Another family member, Platero’s father, arrived at the scene and spoke with Morgan. He had last seen Platero on Jan. 29, when they met for lunch where she appeared to be in good spirits.

The two deaths were marked as “unattended deaths” in the report. Additional information and investigation results were not listed or available as of press time.