Zachary Babitz recently paroled New Mexico man charged in carjacking death of retired archeologist, Gordon Wilson, 83 in Santa Fe following 10 day crime spree that included a bank robbery and fast food robbery.
A recent parolee from a New Mexico prison has been charged in the carjacking death of an 83 year old archaeologist at a Best Buy parking lot in Santa Fe.
Zachary Ryan Babitz, 38, was charged in the murder of 83 year old man, Gordon Wilson following a crime spree which culminated in the man’s capture Saturday night after eluding authorities following the fatal carjacking along with a bank robbery and fast food robbery at an Arby’s outlet over the course of ten days.
The crime spree came less than 4 months after Babitz making parole from a state penitentiary after previously serving time for robbery. The man had initially been sentenced to 23 years prison in 2019 only to later have part of his sentence commuted by a judge.
According to a City of Albuquerque Police release, the mayhem began around 2pm on July 31 when the suspect — still wearing wearing his GPS ankle monitor — robbed a Wells Fargo in Albuquerque.
Zachary Babitz is alleged to have cut off his ankle monitor and headed to Santa Fe where he robbed and murdered Gordon Wilson, 83, around 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 6 in the parking lot of a Best Buy at 3533 Zafarano Dr.
Babitz stole Wilson’s car and drove away, police said.
On Thursday, Santa Fe police identified Babitz as the suspect and issued an arrest warrant for murder, robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. But Babitz’s alleged crime spree continued. He and a woman allegedly walked into an Arby’s in Las Cruces around 6:30 p.m. Saturday where he pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money. After running away, the couple allegedly forced a woman out of her vehicle at gunpoint. They sped away, but quickly crashed and ran, according to police.
Cops arrested Babitz while the woman escaped, KRQE reported.
After police in Santa Fe identified Babitz as the suspect in the murder, Albuquerque cops were able to tie him to the Wells Fargo Bank robbery. They went to Babitz’s home where they found the vehicle that Babitz allegedly used to rob the bank. Babitz faces charges of armed robbery and tampering with evidence in that case.
Babitz remains held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center without bond.
Babitz’s crime spree has since led to accusations that he should never have been let out.
‘This is a gentleman who never should have been out, he shouldn’t be on the streets right now. He was sentenced to what I understand to be 20 years. He was put on parole, released early. He cut off his ankle monitor and immediately began wreaking havoc,’ Santa Fe Police Chief Paul Joye told reporters.
Wilson worked as an investment and mutual fund manager before retiring and working with a nonprofit archaeology organization for decades, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
Though his career was in finance he worked on archaeological sites in his spare time according to an essay he once wrote.
