Trial to begin for 20-year-old accused in homeless deaths

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – The jury trial for a suspect accused of killing two homeless men who police say were attacked as they slept, and were beaten to death with cinder blocks and other various objects is set to begin Wednesday in Albuquerque.

Alex Rios, who is now 20, and two teens are accused of killing 44-year-old Allison Gorman and 46-year-old Kee Thompson in a vacant lot in Albuquerque in July 2014. Both victims were Navajo.

Rios faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, numerous counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The youngest of the three suspects in the beating was 15 at the time of the attack. He agreed to testify against the other suspects as part of a plea deal.