Federal investigators say a Texas man accused of kidnapping a 10-month-old baby girl after fatally shooting her mother and another woman in a New Mexico park has a history of “killing people and children.” “I'm starting,” he allegedly threatened.
A federal criminal complaint against Alec Isaiah Collins alleges he called the FBI twice last year and made threatening statements that led to mental health evaluations.
As a result of the evaluation, Collins is prohibited from purchasing firearms in Texas, according to the complaint. An alarm was also installed to alert police if Collins tried to buy a gun.
Collins was arrested on May 6 in Abilene, Texas, on suspicion of murder and kidnapping at Ned Hawk Park near Clovis, New Mexico.
Authorities found the bodies of Samantha Cisneros and Taryn Allen lying near a silver Dodge minivan in a park on May 3. Cisneros' 5-year-old daughter was shot in the head and taken to the hospital.
The baby's belongings, including a stroller and a baby bottle, were found at the scene. Police determined that Cisneros' 10-month-old daughter, Eleia Maria Torres, was missing and issued an Amber Alert.
The baby was found safe with Collins in Abilene a few days later, authorities said.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico announced in a news release Tuesday that a federal criminal complaint charges Collins with interstate child abduction. He also faces state charges of first-degree murder, child abuse and kidnapping.
Federal investigators say Collins called the FBI twice in 2023, asking for help finding his missing 5-year-old daughter. It is not clear whether she has any children with Collins.
Collins allegedly made “threatening statements” during a September phone call, prompting the FBI to contact the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office in Texas. Deputies took Collins in for a mental health evaluation, according to the complaint.
NBC News has reached out to the sheriff's office for comment.
The next month, he called the FBI again and “reported that if law enforcement didn't help find his missing 5-year-old daughter, he would 'start killing people and children,'” the complaint states. ing. He also told police he kidnapped the woman and her son in order to “pressure law enforcement to assist in the search for her daughter,” the complaint said.
The FBI again alerted law enforcement in Texas, but was unable to contact Collins. Federal investigators said Collins appeared to be intoxicated during the second call and was unable to provide the name of the alleged girl or her mother.
When questioned by law enforcement, Collins allegedly stated that he did not have a weapon and did not intend to harm anyone. The suspect claimed he made the statement “to get help finding his girlfriend's daughter,” according to the complaint.
Collins' attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
The complaint also provides details about the May 3 incident. Federal investigators said Cisneros and Allen, both 23, were shot multiple times and Cisneros appeared to have been hit by a car.
“Her body had injuries to her lower legs and abrasions on her back indicating she had been struck or dragged by a vehicle,” the complaint states.
Federal investigators said they also found a side mirror cover from a maroon car along with baby items at the scene.
Collins rented a maroon Honda in Texas before the shooting, according to the complaint. The car's GPS data showed it was traveling from Houston to Clovis, and surveillance camera footage showed it was near the park within an hour of the killing, according to the complaint.
Witnesses told police the driver of the maroon car appeared to be talking to the driver of the van, according to the complaint.
GPS data after the shooting showed the vehicle sped from Clovis to a residence in Abilene, where it remained until May 6.
The car's owner told authorities that when Collins did not return the car on time, the owner filed a theft report and remotely disabled the car.
Officers were preparing to execute a search warrant at the home when they saw Collins leave the home and get into an Uber, carrying the baby, according to the complaint. Investigators say Collins then pointed a gun at the Uber driver, forced him out of the car, and drove off. Officers “pursued and pinned down” the vehicle and took Collins into custody.
The motive for the shooting and kidnapping remains unclear. Authorities said they do not believe Collins was related to any of the victims.
