Documentary Filmed on LC Massacre

By Adrienne Alvarez - Weekend Anchor/ Reporter
Sunday, September 6, 2009 - 6:31pm

LAS CRUCES--- "He dropped me off at school. I said goodbye to him and the girls. And they took off."

That cold February morning has been replaying in the mind of Audrey Martinez-Teran for the last 20 years.

Teran's husband, Steven, and daughters Paula Holguin, 6, and Valerie Teran, 2, were three of the four killed February 10, 1990 at the Las Cruces Bowl, now known as Sun Bowl Lanes.

"I was just in shock. I would say for about a good couple of years," said Teran.

Two suspects were robbing the bowling alley that morning when Teran's family came in. Steven was a manager at the alley, his daughters were going to stay in the alley's daycare.

But as they walked in, the two suspects inside ushered them into the office where four others were.

That's when they were all shot, execution style.
Luckily, three people survived the shooting.

"I mean, they were 6 and 2. I mean, who does that? Who shoots children six and two? Any children?" asked Teran incredulously.

Officers set up roadblocks along the highway looking for the suspects, to no avail.

For years, the story of the massacre was retold, especially on anniversaries.
It even played out on the national level.

"I was honestly haunted by it, even though I didn't know any of the victims," said Charlie Ninn, a filmmaker from Boston.

Ninn is filming a documentary on the attack, after he says that haunted feeling has stayed with him since he first saw the story on television nearly 20 years ago.

"I'll never forget that moment. I just froze. I was struck. I was speechless. I was angered at the degree of unfairness of how barbaric these killers were," he said.

This February will be the 20th anniversary, and Ninn says it makes for the perfect time to make his film.

He's interviewing survivors, detectives, and family members like Teran, hoping to make a break in the case.

"This was an unspeakable crime. And something has to be done. I think someone knows something. And they're not speaking up due to trepidation," he said.

" I mean (it's been) 20 years... It's time to talk. It's time to speak. We want answers," said Teran.

The film is expected to be released early next year.

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