Matthew Stevens, 32, was arrested earlier this week for the Dec. 23 murder of Randy Heider at the Extended Stay on Menaul Blvd. NE.
According to an Albuquerque Police Department release, Stevens told detectives he went to the motel to retrieve the belongings of a female friend who was sharing a room with Heider. Stevens and Heider then got into an altercation at which point Heider allegedly hit Stevens with a crowbar before Stevens grabbed a knife and stabbed Heider to death.
Stevens alleges the knife belonged to Heider and that he was acting in self defense. Stevens left the motel without calling police and the female friend told police that Stevens was the aggressor.
According to Metropolitan Detention Center inmate records, Matthew David Stevens was admitted into MDC Thursday, Jan. 5 at 12:43 a.m. He is booked and charged with an open count of murder in the first degree (willful & deliberate, felony murder, or depraved mind).