Suspect Pleads Guilty in 2019 Murder and Dumping of Victim’s Body

(KNSI) — A 37-year-old Montrose man who was scheduled to go on trial for murdering a man and dumping his body along a Meeker County road has pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors in Wright County say Alejandro Vega was set to go on trial for the December 2019 murder of 34-year-old Justin Warnke. Vega pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and a first-degree drug charge.

According to the criminal complaint, about 3:00 a.m. December 28th, three men went to the AmericInn in Monticello looking for Warnke and another woman, but front desk staff refused to allow them to access the room, given it was so late. Court records say after the men left, hotel staff went to the room where the two were staying and saw that the door was open. They said a window was open, but there was no one in the room, leading police to believe Warnke fled the hotel through the window. Police say Warnke’s wallet and just over a gram of cocaine were left behind. About 4:00 a.m., surveillance video shows Warnke leaving with Vega and arriving at Vega’s apartment at about 5:30 a.m. Later that morning, investigators say, Vega went to the hotel and tried to collect Warnke’s belongings. He allegedly told hotel staff, “his friend (Justin Warnke) had an emergency and had to go to the hospital.” Hotel staff would not turn over Warnke’s property, so Vega left.

Staff at Vega’s apartment complex called police on January 1st, 2020, after they saw surveillance tape showing Vega leaving his apartment with an object that appeared to be a body wrapped in blankets and garbage bags. The criminal complaint says video footage from about 1:15 a.m. December 29th shows Vega driving out of the apartment complex parking lot with Warnke’s body hanging out of the trunk of the car.

Court records say that in a Mirandized statement, Vega told police he and Warnke were at his apartment when he left for a while. When he returned, he said Warnke was unresponsive. He said he tried a sternum rub, but his body was lifeless. Vega told police he dragged Warnke’s body from the bedroom to the hallway near the kitchen. He said he knew he couldn’t have Warnke’s dead body in his apartment but didn’t explain why he didn’t call the police. He said he knew Warnke was bleeding but didn’t know why, so he wrapped him in a blanket at put two garbage bags over his head. He said he used an appliance cart to move the body from his apartment to his car and dumped it just before 2:00 a.m. December 29th. A passerby discovered Warnke’s body on the side of the road in Kingston about six hours later.

The Medical Examiner says due to injuries to Warnke’s head, scalp, and chest, it appears he was beaten and strangled to death.

Prosecutors say the lengths Vega went to to cover up Warnke’s murder and dispose of the body show overwhelming evidence of intent and guilt.

As part of the plea agreement, Vega will be sentenced to just over 17 years in prison. Sentencing is set for October 8th.

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