Man charged with murder in father’s stabbing

Hobbs resident Terrance Cleer was arrested Wednesday on an open count of murder following the stabbing death of his father, Robert Cleer, late Tuesday night.

Around 9:43 p.m. Tuesday, Lea County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Hobbs EMS personnel responded to a residence in the 3900 block of North Dal Paso. Deputies found Robert Cleer, 42, of Hobbs suffering from a chest wound at the home. He was transported to Lea Regional Medical Center and was later pronounced dead. Lea County Chief Deputy Jon Martinez confirmed Robert Cleer’s body was sent to the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque for autopsy. He stated OMI reports can take months to complete.

“An investigation by sheriff’s office deputies, aided by the New Mexico State Police and Hobbs Police Department, has resulted in the arrest of the victim’s son, 22-year-old Terrance Keygan Cleer of Hobbs,” the sheriff’s office announced Thursday. “He is charged with an open count of murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and criminal damage to property of a household member.”

Terrance Cleer was first arrested Tuesday on a probation violation. He was booked at Lea County Detention Center and was being held without bond, as of Thursday.

“There are no other suspects,” Martinez said. “Terrance is the only suspect and he will be the only one charged.”

Martinez said Terrance Cleer’s arraignment was scheduled for Thursday.

The criminal complaint gives additional details on what allegedly took place Tuesday. It reports two family members told deputies that Terrance Cleer was the “alleged suspect.” Investigators found blood at the home and several broken items “consistent with a stabbing and a physical altercation.”

In a sheriff’s office interview, Terrance Cleer said he was in an argument with Robert Cleer about fighting a younger male family member. He alleged Robert Cleer pushed and yelled at him. The younger male family member got involved and the situation calmed. Later, Terrance Cleer said his father started shoving and pushing him again, this time into a kitchen counter and a door which caused a glass pane to break.

The complaint states Terrance Cleer described the fight continued and he grabbed a steak knife and butter knife at one point, before threatening his father. Terrance Cleer said he went outside believing it was over and Robert Cleer came at him yelling, leading to another fight.

“Defendant stated he picked the knife up, threatened (Robert) with it, and tried to return to the residence,” the complaint states. “Defendant advised (Robert) grabbed him by the shirt collar from behind and pulled him back to the silver SUV. Defendant stated (Robert) began choking him again, and banging his head into the SUV.”

Terrance Cleer told sheriff investigators he pushed his father away. He said Robert Cleer came back and while they were clenched together, Terrance Cleer stabbed his father multiple times in the chest and stomach area. Terrance Cleer said he then followed his father in and out of the house before his father collapsed on the porch. Terrance Cleer said he then told a female family member to call

911. He told police he threw the knife away, grabbed another knife and cut off his ankle monitor before leaving. New Mexico court records indicate he has prior felony convictions, including receiving stolen property, larceny and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

The younger male family member and a female family member also spoke with investigators. The female described several events that led up to the altercation, which included her and Terrance Cleer in a bathroom to bathe a child family member. She said Terrance Cleer left the bathroom and she heard him and Robert Cleer argue.

“... and during the course of the argument, the defendant picked up the butcher’s block and started throwing knives,” a sheriff’s investigator wrote. “At this point, she barricaded herself and the child in the bathroom. (She) stated things got quiet and she left the bathroom.”

The female member said she then saw Robert Cleer come into the house with a knife in his chest. He went into another room and when he returned, the knife was no longer in his chest. Robert Cleer told the female member to call 911 before collapsing on the porch. She said Terrance Cleer started punching out windows. She indicated to authorities that she’d noticed Terrance Cleer appeared “jittery,” which was similar to previous times when he’d been under the influence of methamphetamine, the complaint states.

When interviewed, the younger male family member said the female was in the bathroom with the child when he heard a “loud commotion.” The younger male family member also said he went onto the porch and saw Robert Cleer lying down and Terrance Cleer standing near him with a knife in his hand. The male reportedly asked Terrance Cleer what he’d done and lunged at Terrance, who struck the male on the leg with the knife, according to the complaint. The male said he grabbed Terrance Cleer by the neck, slammed him into the door and ground before Terrance Cleer got up and ran away.

Deputies and Hobbs police officers later located Terrance Cleer at the Grimes and Clinton street intersection inside a vehicle.

The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information about this incident to call the Criminal Investigations Unit at 575-396-8284.

Kelly Farrell can be reached at courts@hobbsnews.com.