Was a rookie police officer’s apparent suicide really murder?
CASE DETAILS ![]() He staked out bars, and busted drunk drivers Everybody who knew Steve Sandlin said he was born to be a policeman. His father was a career law enforcement officer and Steve planned to follow in his footsteps. In March of 1988, when he was 21-years-old, Steve announced to his family that he had been accepted as a member of the Mountainair Police Department. But in the early evening of May 7, 1988, while Steve was working alone in the police station, his dream came to a violent end. David Carson was the Police Chief:
![]() Steve’s work led to a $100,000 drug bust Steve Sandlin had only been on the force for eight weeks. His gun was found by his side. Police believed the fatal bullet had been fired from his own weapon. Most concluded that Steve’s death was either accidental or a suicide. However, Steve’s mother Eileen disagreed with the theory that her son took his own life:
The death of Steve Sandlin has ignited a controversy that has reached beyond his grieving family. There are those who believe that not only was Steve murdered, but that his killer’s identity has been deliberately covered up by law enforcement officials. ![]() “… someone killed Sandlin intentionally” The afternoon of Steve’s death, May 7th, he returned to an empty police station after arguing with Chief Carson over some traffic tickets Steve had written:
By 7:00, Steve was alone at the station and spoke with his girlfriend, Michelle Sturtevant, in nearby Bosque Farms, New Mexico:
Approximately 45 minutes later, at 7:45, Chief Carson learned that Steve had been shot:
Chief Carson also believed that if Steve’s death wasn’t a suicide, then it was a tragic accident:
Steve Sandlin was given an autopsy, but the results were inconclusive. Some believe that the gun may have been as much as two feet away from Steve’s head when it was fired—an unusual distance for a self-inflicted wound. Secondly, there were only insignificant traces of gunpowder found on Steve’s hand—an unusually small amount if Steve had fired the fatal shot. Despite this evidence, the state Attorney General refused to rule out suicide. Frustrated with the finding, Steve’s father Tom, and the rest of the family began their own investigation:
The family’s investigation uncovered a strong motive for Steve’s murder. After only a few weeks on the job, Steve had begun to go out on patrol alone, sometimes waiting outside a local bar for drunk drivers. On the night of April 11th, just one month before his death, Steve pulled over a drunk driver and found that he was also in possession of marijuana. The man was arrested and the following day his home was searched. Police seized fifty-four pounds of marijuana worth more than $100,000. According to Chief Carson, within days of the arrest, Steve received death threats:
At the time Steve was killed, the Mountainair Police Department was being investigated for mishandling evidence. According to his father, Tom, Steve was frustrated with the department:
Soon after talking to his father, Steve was questioned by James Scarantino of the New Mexico Attorney General’s office:
Shortly after his death, Steve’s house was searched by police. Three days later, his family arrived to pack up his belongings. In a kitchen drawer, Steve’s mother found several bags of marijuana:
Steve always recorded information about his traffic stops on a small tape recorder. In her search, Steve’s mother discovered that all of his taped cassettes were missing:
There are many disturbing questions in the case. If Steve was murdered, who pulled the trigger? Who planted the marijuana found in his house? And finally, are members of the Mountainair Police Department hiding information about Steve’s death? Update: Authorities have learned that five months before Steve Sandlin was killed, law enforcement received a tip that a police officer was going to be shot by drug dealers. Lacking specifics, police were unable to take action. Steve’s death has been officially reclassified as a homicide. Recently, his name was added to a memorial to New Mexico police officers killed in the line of duty. The case remains unsolved. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season two with Robert Stack and season seven with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu SUBMIT A TIP |
Michael Scott
The “reply” button does not seem to be working.
Update wanted
Unsolved- after this person left you with a tip was anything developed from this with a different agency?
Unsolved Mysteries Post author
All tips are passed on to the law enforcement agency handling the case. We rarely hear about follow ups unless the case has been solved.
Ann Nonymus
I saw this story on Prime and the chief’s behavior did not set well with me. Obvious cover up. Why hasn’t he been investigated more?
Bill Blaski
I agree the chiefs demeanor was very suspect. I have also heard bad things online allegedly about the chief. So you say a was fooling around with his weapon? This stinks of a coverup. I wish there was a update
No one
The Chief said people told him he was prone to playing with his gun.
You work with him would you not notice?
wayne ksiazkiewicz
I knew Steve very well. It is a travesty that justice has not been forthcoming. I have more background info. then is told here, but this is a very good depiction of the incident. Hope this comes to a end in my lifetime. RIP Steve
Rudy Gregory
Does anyone have a link to the episode? I can’t find it anywhere.
Unsolved Mysteries Post author
You can find this case in S2:E16 with Robert Stack on Amazon Prime, Hulu & Roku. Also in S7:E5 with Dennis Farina on YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu & Roku.
Josh
Unsolved Mysteries is on Amazon Prime. The episode you are looking for is season 2 episode 16.
Bill blaski
Just watched this one and it screams cover up.
Anonymous
I know what has happened to poor Stephen. I don’t know who to talk to because the officer involved are dirty. I never knew who to go to. I now know what the deal was between the cops and dealers. It includes five agencies in the area. An Stephen was an example comply or die.
Anonymous
I know something about this case but it’s difficult to know WHO to talk to. So many of the LEOs were dirty. I know what was going on in Mountainair, Estancia and Santa Rosa. This involved a lot of money and dirty cops along with dealers. I kept this to my self for so long and now I’m sick and my mind drifts to Stephen and is it safe yet? This is a heavy guilt.
unsolved
Please email us at unsolved@unsolved.com and we will make sure your tip is passed on to someone outside that department.
anonymous
Does anyone know Dave Carson?
unknown
Yes I know him
YOUfindem
I’m not a cop but I do have a criminal justice background. The Mary jane they found in the kitchen drawer was a signature from the drug dealers letting everyone know that they were the ones that did it. Giving them street cred and power. They weren’t trying to set anybody up.
brad wright
yes he is my grandpaw on my dads side and he lives in lake Charles Louisiana and the reason my last name is different is because my dad canged his name
Dennis Schwab
David Carson should be in jail. I am a step child of his and he has a abusive behavior. I feel bad for the family that Steve left behind. He left new Mexico and worked in lake charles louisiana as a jailer. Sad officials let Dave go. My prayers are with the family.
Journalist
Time to come forward and put this case to rest