Head Games // 151

This episode is available early and ad-free on Invisible Choir + exclusively on Apple Podcasts and Patreon, and is scheduled for free/regular release on August 17th, 2025.

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Extreme acts of violence rarely happen without warning. There’s often a long, troubling pattern leading up to them. When intervention fails, the consequences can be devastating. Such was the case for 25-year-old Joel Arciniega-Saenz, whose story leaves us asking what might have happened if someone had only acted sooner…

Written by Trevor Pason, Edited and Engineered by Scott Ecklein, and Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway.

Written/Sources:  

• FOIA Request: Joel Arcinega-Saenz Criminal Complaint 2017

• Las Cruces Sun-News  Tue, Apr 25, 2017 ·Page A2

• LCPD, Crime Stoppers put out $2K reward for info in 2017 killing 

• FOIA Request: Joel Arciniega-Saenz - 1-24-2018 - Pros Motion Continuance

• Albuquerque Journal  Wed, Apr 26, 2017 ·Page A007 

• FOIA Request: Joel Arciniega-Saenz - 1-24-2018 - Pros Motion Continuance

• Woman wakes up to burglar in West Side home; 3 arrested 

• Man arrested for Las Cruces murder has lengthy criminal history 

• Crime Stoppers offers reward for leads on 2017 homicide case in Las Cruces

• FOIA Request: Joel Arciniega-Saenz - 12-1-2018 - Motion reconside continuance.pdf

• Las Cruces Police Post About Joel's Vandalism 2018 

• Las Cruces Police Arrest Suspect in Vandalism of Beck's Coffee, Las Cruces Abstract & Title | KRWG Public Media  

• Man wanted in vandalism of businesses in Las Cruces' Mesquite Historic District arrested 

• Beck's vandalism suspect arrested, released on bond  

• FOIA Request: Body Cam Footage Courtesy of Las Cruces Police Department 

• FOIA Request: Las Cruces Police Incident Report 

• Man who 'played soccer' with victim's head in public park after stabbing him 84 times, decapitating him is convicted

• FOIA Request: Joel Arcinega-Saenz Interrogation

• Las Cruces residents say macabre murder is 'stuff you see in crime movies' 

• FOIA Request: Police Interview with Joel’s Sister

• FOIA Request: Police Interview with Family Member of James Garcia 

• Treatment Guardian | New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Planning Council 

• James (Rabbit) Garcia Obituary - Las Cruces Sun-News

• Las Cruces family of 2017 murder victim responds to Apodaca Park murder confession | KTSM 9 News 

• Las Cruces family of 2017 murder victim responds to Apodaca Park murder confession 

• FACT CHECK: What to know about the Las Cruces decapitation case Trump cited in his NM speech 

• Trump makes false claims about 2021 Las Cruces beheading 

• Joel Arciniega-Saenz Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in Gruesome 2021 Killing - Doña Ana County District Attorney 

Music & Sound Effect Sources

• Opening Track: “In Retrospect” by Bill Ferngren 

• Closing Track: “Summer Talk” by  Damma Beatz; “Death Whistle OUTRO” by Michael Ojibway

Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at info@invisiblechoir.com