The person at the center of this case
New Mexico State Police Officer (unnamed)
Homicide · Open
54 years waiting · since 1971
CHARLES LEE HILL
Justice for New Mexico State Police Officer (unnamed) — the trail went cold in 1971, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1What is Charles Lee Hill's current location and status after fleeing to Cuba in 1971?
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person
Lead #2Were the two accomplices in the hijacking ever identified, and what happened to them?
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evidence
Lead #3What evidence connected Hill to the police officer's shooting on November 8, 1971?
On November 8, 1971, Charles Lee Hill allegedly shot and killed a New Mexico State Police officer during a traffic stop west of Albuquerque. Three weeks later, Hill and two accomplices hijacked a TWA flight from Albuquerque International Airport after kidnapping a tow truck driver, ultimately escaping to Havana, Cuba. Hill remains a federal fugitive wanted for murder, air piracy, and kidnapping—his whereabouts and current status unknown after over 50 years.
Case
#914
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); New Mexico State Police; U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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witness
Lead #4What account did the kidnapped tow truck driver provide about the hijacking?
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timeline
Lead #5Why was there a 19-day gap between the police officer's death and the airport hijacking?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution - Murder; Air Piracy; Kidnapping Caution: Charles Lee Hill is wanted for his alleged involvement in a series of violent crimes that occurred in November of 1971. On November 8, 1971, Hill was allegedly involved in the shooting death of a New Mexico State Police officer during a traffic stop approximately 15 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On November 27, 1971, Hill and two accomplices (believed to be deceased), allegedly also kidnapped a tow truck driver at gunpoint and forced him to drive the trio to the Albuquerque International Airport. The three men are alleged to have then hijacked a Trans World Airlines (TWA) flight, re-routing the plane to Tampa, Florida.
After exchanging the hostages for fuel, Hill and his accomplices flew to Havana, Cuba. On November 25, 1971, Hill was charged with murder by the Magistrate Court of Bernalillo District, State of New Mexico, and an arrest warrant was issued the same day for his arrest.
On November 26, 1971, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Hill in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Additionally, on December 14, 1971, Hill was charged in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, with six counts of possession of unregistered firearms, one count of air piracy, and one count of kidnapping.
Timeline of Events
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1971-11-08
Police Officer Shooting
Charles Lee Hill allegedly shot and killed a New Mexico State Police officer during a traffic stop approximately 15 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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1971-11-27
Kidnapping and Air Piracy
Hill and two accomplices kidnapped a tow truck driver at gunpoint and forced him to drive to Albuquerque International Airport, then hijacked a TWA flight to Tampa, Florida, and diverted to Havana, Cuba.
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1971-11-25
Murder Charge
Hill was charged with murder by the Magistrate Court of Bernalillo District, State of New Mexico; arrest warrant issued.
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1971-11-26
Federal Warrant
Federal arrest warrant issued in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
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1971-12-14
Additional Federal Charges
Hill charged with six counts of possession of unregistered firearms, one count of air piracy, and one count of kidnapping.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 8, 1971
Last Updated:September 11, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:November 8, 1971
Last Updated:September 11, 2026