Sir, put your hands up. Come over here. Put your hands up. Put your hands up. >> These officers are currently in the middle of arresting 25-year-old Joel Sains, covered in blood and delusional in this Las Cruces children's park, as they unknowingly discover what has put him in this state. >> Somebody called it in said they found a guy de- >> Holy. >> Um it looks old. >> Because only a few feet away, they would find 51-year-old James Garcia deceased and with a missing head. And as this terrifying investigation progresses, authorities will learn that they are dealing with a psychopath. >> So, why do you think you're here, Joel? >> I have a problem here. >> I want to tell you right now we have somebody that's dead out there. Let's stop playing games and tell us the truth, okay? >> On June 20th, 2021, police in Las Cruces, New Mexico received a 911 call that at first seemed inconceivable. A man driving through this park had to dodge something lying in the middle of the road. He wasn't sure what it was, and when the full picture came into view, it was something he found himself wishing he had never seen. And when police arrived to investigate, they felt the same way. >> Holy. >> Um it looks old. >> Okay. >> There, lying in the center of the road, police have just discovered the remains of an innocent man. Shocked, the arriving officers called for backup and began to canvass the scene for evidence and witnesses. Instead, they found something else they weren't expecting, the perpetrator. >> Sir. Put your hands up. Stand up. 809 87 Air Force 1 63 for 9. Come over here. Put your hands up. Put your hands up. Get on your knees. Put your hands where I can see them. Stay right there, okay? 809 87 893 87 Stay where you are and keep your hands up, okay? Keep your hands where I can can see them. Don't move. >> Contact. I got contact. >> I got cover. You got contact. Yep. Yep. Yep. I got your back. Slow down. 9 Air Force 1 for Milton. >> Got him on the track 21. >> Shut up, bro. >> I just lost my >> Just pat him down, bro. You got to take everything out of your pockets. >> Put them on the hood. >> Put them on the hood. >> Yeah. Yeah, I got cuffs. You got cuffs. >> Get him up. >> Hey. Over here. >> You guys got him then? >> We got him, Sarge. >> Put him in the car. >> Police knew immediately that the man leaning on the tree was involved. Why? Because he was covered in blood and a bloody knife lay at his side. Finding him and linking him to the crime was shockingly easy, but getting him to cooperate, well, that's another story entirely. >> Stay where you are, you bro. Let go of your hands. Shine your light right here. Let your hands go, bro. Let your hands go. Let go of your hands. Let go of your right hand, sir. I don't think he has anything. He just He's good, bro. Yeah, we'll We'll clear We'll clear his hands right now, do you think? Show them the window so I can identify him. >> Clean first cuz I got blood on me. >> While the arriving officers wash blood off their hands and suits, other officers returned to where the suspect was found looking for more evidence. And if you enjoy killers like this, realize they're not winning an Oscar, subscribe, and check out our Spotify, where we upload podcasts every week. >> So, there are his boots, the knife that they were talking about. >> Oh, what? On the knife? >> Yeah. Yeah, there was blood on the bag. >> Yep. >> And then blood on the knife. >> I need that much longer. So, cigarettes. Dude, that's like a >> Which tree? Which trees? >> The one behind this one. >> That one? >> Oh, my light? >> Yeah. >> No, they They caught him down here. >> The guy you got was down here. >> No, he was right right here. >> They caught him right here. >> The amount of bags surrounding where the suspect was found has police wondering, was this a robbery gone wrong? But the violence of the scene suggests something else because immediately officers notice odd drag marks. >> I'm going to say throw but then you have like two marks. Maybe I'd say throw it. Hit there maybe. >> First impact and then roll. >> Look at Look at the cut. It's clean. Like you don't have cuts and scrapes. You just know what I'm talking about? >> There's a hole right there, Dustin. >> A roll? >> Yeah, I think he tossed it. >> That's one thing you probably need to do is look at his shoes to see if he's got any blood on the top of his shoes, too. We're going to need all of his We're going to need all of his clothing. >> Yeah. >> The drag marks on the ground suggest that whoever did this to the victim played with him afterwards. The scene is disturbing and the suspect they've arrested, well, he fits the bill. He is transported to the station where investigators put him in a cell to await questioning and he does just about the eeriest thing possible. He talks incoherently all while staring directly into the camera. After a good hour of creepiness, finally police bring him in for interrogation where somehow things get worse. >> Joel, this is uh I'm Detective Wilson of the Los Angeles Police Department. This is my partner, Detective Lockridge. >> [snorts] >> You feel all right right now? >> I don't know. >> Okay. All right, man. Um I'm just going to clarify right now you're not under arrest, okay? You're just being detained because we brought you down here and have to have to read you your rights, okay? So, I'm going to read you that. I just want you to follow along. You have any questions, I'll answer them for you, okay? >> Joel is Joel Arciniega Sainz, a homeless individual who is no stranger to law enforcement. Just weeks before this incident, he was charged with robbery after breaking into a vehicle. In 2017, when he was just 21, he was charged with murder after he allegedly got into a fight with a friend, Benjamin Montoya, at a hotel he was living in and shot him in the chest, allegedly. Now, we say allegedly because evidently Joel wasn't convicted of the murder. We can't tell you why. What we can tell you is that just 4 years later he's sitting in an interrogation room being questioned for yet another murder. Fool me once, shame on you. >> As soon as Danny's right says I have explained them to you. Okay, having these rights in mind do you wish to talk to us? >> No. >> What's that? I said having these rights in mind do you wish to talk to us? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Joel, so I got your your first name. Can I can I get your last name? >> I don't have one. >> You don't have a last name? >> No. >> What's your date of birth? Where do you live in Anaheim? >> Here. >> Do you have a residence, a house, apartment? >> No. >> You're on the streets? Where do you usually stay at? >> Anywhere. >> Anywhere? Okay. You work anywhere at all? >> No. >> You have any family in town? Nothing? What about friends? >> Uh no. >> No? What were you doing at the parking lot last night? That's right. >> I don't >> You don't know? Who do you think it was? >> I don't >> Tell me what you do know, Joel. >> Huh? >> Tell me what you do know. >> Unfortunately for Joel, the Uno reverse card isn't going to work in this situation. >> What happened What did you get on your hands? What's that? You don't know what you got on your hands? And you don't know what you were doing at the parking lot. So, I mean this is all I mean obviously you know we're out here investigating something, right? Okay. And this is your chance to tell us anything you want to tell us of the story, right? What were you doing there? >> I guess so. >> That's all That's all we're here for. Try to get your your side of the story. We just want to try to understand what happened. What were you doing at the dog park today? >> Okay. >> Sure. So, you want to give us that? What happened? >> I guess >> What's that? You don't know? >> I guess I don't know. >> Well, I asked what what you were doing at the dog park. >> What were you doing? >> I wasn't in the dog park until I got the call. >> Me too. >> That's where the officers found us. >> I guess so. >> So, you don't want to give us your side of the story of what happened? >> I guess so. >> Huh? >> I was playing with him. >> You don't have a side of the story? >> No. >> You don't know what what's all over your hands? >> I don't know. >> What's that? >> I don't >> Nothing? There's nothing on your hands? >> I guess >> That is stuff on your hand. I mean, you can see it. All that red stuff. >> I don't see it. >> You don't know what that is? What's that? You don't think you do? Okay. Um John, do you do you have to see it? So, I was just curious. Do you know what's on it? How you got it? >> I guess not. >> You don't So, why do you think you're here, though? >> You guys have a problem here, so >> I'm asking you why we brought you here. >> I didn't do it. >> I know. I'm asking you. >> I don't I don't know. >> Huh? >> I don't know. You asked me. >> Well, you don't know why we're right here. Do you have any question why we're right here? >> On second thought, that Uno reverse might be working. Often suspects will repeat questions back to law enforcement to buy themselves more time to come up with a story, but in this case it's hard to tell if there's anything going on inside Joel's head at all. >> Do you have any question? >> Do you care that you're being entertained? >> Yes, sir. >> I said, do you care? I can't tell you how you feel. Joel, do you not know who else was in the park? What about James? >> Who's James? >> What's up? >> Who's James? >> The guy in the park with you. Huh? >> Who was that? >> He was in the park with you. >> Who is he? >> James. Okay. Well, you were with him. >> Yes, sir. >> So, I'm trying to figure out how you know him. No. And you got blood on your hands. >> That's all it >> That's what that is. >> Yes, sir. >> So, did [snorts] James get in a fight with him? >> I don't know who James is. >> Huh? >> I don't know. >> Did you get in a fight with somebody? Are you hurt? So, have you ever met James before? >> Who's James? >> All that stuff that we found you by, the glasses. That's not your stuff? So, you want me to tell you something, Joe? >> Yes, sir. >> That's That's it. That's James' blood. Yes. So, I want to know what happened. Did you guys get in a fight? Okay, so the guy that was in the park was you. You may not know his name, but he was there with you. He was. So, what happened? You don't know? You don't know or you don't want to tell us? What's that? What did you say? So, then you don't know or you don't want to tell us? We're asking what happened to James tonight. The guy that was in the park with you. You have his blood on your hands, it's on your shoes, and it's on your clothes. Let's stop playing games here, James. Or Joe, okay? Stop playing games here, okay? You know what we're out here investigating. You know what's going on. So, you sit here and tell us I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. You know that's not true. Okay? So, tell us your side. Tell us what happened. Well, let's skip about what happened. Tell us why it happened. Did James piss you off? Is this how we're going to play, Joe? Is that how you're going to play? I you're need to sit here and say know." You're just going to keep asking us the same questions? You're not giving You're not giving us any answers. You're just going to keep saying that? We've already asked you a few questions and you just keep saying, "I don't know." Is that how you're going to keep it going? >> James Garcia was 51 years old, a man who had been adopted at a young age and grown up in a large extended family. At the time of his murder, he had three children and was known to be a kind, funny member of the community. >> So, what do you got to say about this anything? I don't know. >> Have you ever been to see a doctor and told them to give you something for anything? >> What's a doctor? >> Okay, we're not going to sit back and play that game, okay? You know what a doctor is. You've never heard of a doctor, huh? >> No, sir. >> Just like you don't know your last name. Just like you don't know why you're not allowed to smoke or who James is. You've never been Do you know you've never been here? You know this is serious, right? >> What's serious? >> This situation right now that we're talking about. >> [snorts] >> See, the fact that you're saying to me, "Neither am I." And I see I see that little smile on your face. I know you know what I'm talking about. So, this guy is in the park face down on the ground. Your blood and all over his blood all over you. You got nothing to say about it? What? You got nothing to say about all this blood on you? You could be going to prison for this. I'm not going to sit here and waste my time, and I don't want to waste your time, Joe. >> With no answers, police take his clothes as evidence and get him changed into something more flattering. They give him a chance to wash the literal blood off of his hands, and as you'll see from the close-up, he didn't take it. >> Blood didn't wash off, then. You stand by her. I'm going to hang out over here. >> After giving him some time to think, police bring Joel back in for questioning. >> Is there anything that you can remember from last night? >> No, sir. >> Can you tell us what happened last night? >> No, sir. >> You remember where you were at last night? >> No, sir. >> Do you remember why you're here? >> No. >> Do you have any questions about what happened or what how you got here? >> No, sir. >> All right. So, well, [clears throat] here's the thing, man, is we picked you up at Apalachicola Park, okay? You remember that? All right. Remember you had blood on you? So, now, you had blood on your hands, and your clothes. Can you tell me about that? >> No, sir. >> Do you know how the blood got there? >> No. >> [snorts] >> I'm going to tell you right now we have somebody that's standing out there. Do you understand that? There's a man out there that's dead. And you know that. This is a good time for you to talk to us and tell us what happened. Cuz there was nobody else out there but you and him. Do you understand how serious this is? >> Yes. Do you understand what's going down right now? >> No. >> With Joel still talking them in circles, police realize they need a new strategy and they go for the oldest one in the book when it comes to men with big masculine egos. They decide to question his sexuality. >> Joel. Joel. So, >> I'm just trying to find out more information about James. So, was he your boyfriend? Were you guys dating each other? Okay. Were you guys in some kind of lovers' quarrel? No. >> What is that? >> Like, because he's your boyfriend, you guys got in an argument. >> I told you that. >> That's just what I'm getting. >> I didn't tell you that. >> You tell me, man. >> How is that my business to talk to you? >> I'm not calling you gay, yeah. I'm not judging you. Are you married? >> Yeah. >> Who are you married to? >> I'm not gay. >> You married to James? >> Why are you gay? >> Are you married to James? >> Are you trying to insult me? >> Huh? >> Are you insulting me? >> No, I'm not insulting you. I'm not calling you gay. >> Why are you calling me gay? >> I'm not calling you gay. >> Yes, you are. You just said that a moment ago. >> I didn't call you gay. >> Yes, you called me gay. >> I said that Are you married to James? >> No. I told you that. >> Okay. Well, I'm trying to find out why James is dead in a park and you were have his blood all over your hands. >> He's not gay. He's a married man. >> Okay. >> Be quiet. >> So, you didn't have any kind of lovers' quarrel with James? >> No, I didn't have a lovers' quarrel. He was bragging. >> No, I don't. >> Yes, you really seem like you do. >> Okay. >> No, you sure I'm not gay? >> So, is that why you attacked James tonight? >> No. Because he called you gay? Is it because James is gay? I'm asking you if you Why are you gay? I'm not lying about anything. You're telling me I don't know that I am I'm not that kind of child. Okay. So, then tell me about James. Tell me about James. Is that why you you're Is that why you think James thought you were gay? Did James hit on you? Did he make some kind of advance towards you that you didn't like? No. Yeah. Okay. Well, let me know if that's what you feel like you want to do. I'm not calling you gay. I'm asking you. I did not. I asked if James was your husband. Yeah, I told you that's not I'm trying to find out why your blood or why James' blood So, if it's because you guys had a lover's quarrel or he made some kind of unwanted advance. You guess? So, he He did. Do what? Well, then help me out. I don't want to fight you. I don't want to fight you. I'm not calling you gay. Okay? So, you want to tell me what it was? >> No. >> We couldn't find any evidence that Joel and James had any kind of romantic relationship, and in fact, it seems that police have suggested this for one reason and one reason alone. They know that Joel is homophobic. In early 2021, Joel was arrested after breaking into a restaurant where he stole items and graffitied the county's with "death to homosexuals." Except of course, he didn't use that word. Instead, he used a slur. Armed with this information, police used Joel's own prejudice against him, and it works. >> Here's what I think happened. You and James had a relationship. He said something to you. And you killed him. >> Where did you get that? Who's bigger? >> Who's bigger? >> Joel and James sister. >> Yeah? >> [clears throat] >> Is that what happened? >> I don't know. >> What's happened? Okay. >> I don't like your attitude. >> [snorts] >> My calling you a liar. >> All right. Okay. Does your wife know where you are right now? >> No. I'm not going to tell her anything. >> Does she know that you're sleeping in the park with another guy? >> No. I don't know. >> You told me the other day you were sleeping in the park. You and James are the only ones in the park. >> I didn't do that. >> That's exactly what you told me. >> I don't think so. >> It's on the camera. >> It's on the camera. >> Well, then help us understand what was going on. >> I don't know. You're investigating your chief. >> Yeah. That's ex- That's exactly what we're trying to do. >> You said >> You were sleeping in the park with James. >> I had a wife. >> No. >> And you killed him cuz I'm not okay. So then tell me why you killed him. So my fault so what happened? James made an advance on you and you didn't like it cuz you're not gay? >> Scratch. Scratch the floor. What was your weapon? You should probably get >> Did you kill James because he was gay and you didn't like that? >> No, I don't know. >> You don't know why you killed him? >> No, I don't know. I know. >> Okay, so so tell us tell us what happened. You know you killed James because of something he did to you. >> You know we can follow your hands. We got to check your hands on your hands. I know. >> We're going to send that off to We're going to send that off to the lab. It's going to come back and it's blood. It's James' blood so yeah. Okay, so it's James' blood so we got it on your hands. Okay, so it's James' blood is that it? Blood. Blood on your hands. You never seen that guy? >> No. >> That has blood on your hands. >> I don't know. >> You don't know? >> [snorts] >> Right there. That's all it says. Right? So that's how it happened. Yep. >> Isn't that true? Yeah. >> Imagine being more afraid of rainbow allegations than you are of going to jail for murder. Suddenly, Joel's insanity vanishes in a flash. >> So, I didn't >> You killed a guy. and his wife. When did this happen? >> Four years ago. >> Four years ago? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Was that reported? >> No, we were homeless. >> What's that? >> We were all homeless. >> You guys were all homies? >> Homeless, yes. >> Homeless, I'm sorry. Where did it Where did that happen at? >> The same spot you were at. >> The same spot you were at? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, [snorts] you killed this guy killed his wife four years ago. >> Yes. >> How did you do it? >> Those were Those were our bags that you stole from us. >> Okay. Whose bags are yours? >> The sleeping bag was the one that We were going to be friends. >> Okay. >> I wanted to get them back. I said he can pull the gun and saw it. So, yeah, I had no other choice now. >> Now, what else did you do? >> I killed him. >> Okay. Because he had your bags? What knife did you use? >> I don't know. It's some kind of hunting knife. >> He had it? >> Yeah. >> You pulled it off of him? >> Yeah, he tried to take I just wanted my bags back. >> Okay. >> He had a gun, you know. >> What kind of gun was it? >> It was a little .22. >> You said it was a gun it was? >> It was like black from that. And then that thing got me. He tried to pull it on me and he didn't let go of it. He pulled out a knife and he stabbed me. I don't like guns. I can fight. I just want to bring my stuff. >> Okay. You can >> Yeah, I can. What do you want me to do with my stuff when you guys took my stuff? I stacked them in the back. I stacked them in the back of the car too. So, you guys want me to get my stuff now? You can get your stuff from the car. >> You can get your stuff from >> You can get your stuff from the back of the car. >> Did you use the same method? >> Yes. What? I don't like guns. >> Did the knife that you was Is that the same knife you used? >> Yeah. It like a switchblade or something. >> And that's what you used? >> Yeah. Yeah. You got your knife back. Not yet. >> Where's that gun at now? >> I don't know. >> You used that gun to >> Yeah. I don't like getting shot. >> Was anybody else around? >> No, it was just us two. There was There was a straw looking at me. >> Okay. Where at park did you get this all from? >> I should have been using it. The bottom of my pants. >> What park do you know where at Centennial Park? >> I don't know. I was with you when you were getting it. >> Did you use your cell phone? >> No, I didn't use the cell phone. He had his cell phone in his sock. He had his cell phone in his >> When did he say you got your stuff? >> 40 minutes ago. >> 40 minutes ago? Where was your stuff at when you stole it from? >> It was in the car on the other side of the >> You were in the hallway on the other side of the Yeah, we were right in there. >> You all fell asleep in the car. On the other side of the car. That's why I don't know where you >> I don't know where you got your your stuff. >> Yeah, exactly. >> I asked her to back. I woke him up like we can search his stuff. We searched his [ __ ] stuff and like All right. >> Can you give us her name so we >> I see I see her she told me she's on the phone. >> I don't know where she is. >> We need to have him so we can try to find her. >> No. >> It's what I told you. >> I appreciate that. I appreciate you being honest with us. Can you see her? You want a cigarette? >> Joel has alleged that while he and his girlfriend were sleeping, James stole their belongings. However, we should note that there is no evidence that James stole their belongings. Everything about the situation has been presented by Joel, who obviously isn't the most reliable narrator. After allegedly waking up, Joel followed James and attacked him, stabbing him, and leaving him in a state that is far too horrific to describe. And evidently, Joel has no remorse, which makes you wonder how the cop feels about what he has to do next. >> Right or left, do you prefer? >> Uh left. >> Finally, Joel is transported out of [music] the station to jail, where he remains as of the publishing of this video. Joel has been found guilty of murder, but is currently awaiting sentencing for the murder of James Garcia. Our thoughts go out to James, his family, and his loved ones, as well as all of the witnesses and officers affected by this crime. Thank you for tuning in. Besides subscribing to help us make more videos exactly like this one, you can also listen to all of our crime podcasts over on Spotify. And before you go, check out one of the craziest cases I've ever covered right here or one of my newest uploads right here.