Henry Tafoya
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - May 2, 1957
Minturn Man Strangled to Death in Leadville
Henry Tafoya. 37 of Min turn, died of strangulation Saturday night when he broke Into the home of his parents-ln-law. Mr and Mrs Solomon Macstas at Leadville. Maestos and his wife were awakened shortly before midnight by Tafoya, who broke a window and forced the door open. When Macstas awakened, Tafoya attacked him. according to the father-in-law. 59-year-old Maestas grabbed at the younger man and the hold on Tafoya's neck, resulted In Tafoya’s death.
Tafoya was out on a $5OO appearance bond, pendig his trial for assault on a fellow worker at the Gilman mine earlier this month and previous to that affair, he had been arrested for assault on his wife. According to Clarence McMurrough. sheriff of Lake County, there was no evidence of a struggle when he arrived at the Matstos home 15 minutes after Macstas called him at 11 55 Saturday night. Maestas is being held pending further investigation.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - May 16, 1957
Charge of Murder to Be Filed Against Maestas
A direct information charging Solomon Maestas with murder was filed In Leadvllle District Court Monday. Maestas, 59 has been held In custody since April 27 when he strangled Henry Tafoya. 37. of Oilman, after Tafoya attempted Illegal entry of the Maestas residence In Leadvllle. Tafoya was a step-son-in-law of Maestas. The older couple had been taking care of Tafoya's 5 year old son, James. Mr and Mrs Maestas were asleep when Tafoya broke Into their home. When Maestas awoke, Tafoya attacked him. and Maestas grabbed the younger man, the hold resulting In Tafoya's death. Tafoya was out on bond from Eagle County, for assault on his wife early In April, when he was arrested again, far an assault on a fellow worker at the Gilman mines. Again he was let out on bond shortly before the attack on Mr Maestas, w’men resulted In Tafoya’s death. It was understood here that Maestas will be defended by Attorney Eugene A. Bond.
