Beloved Couple Passes Away, Then Cops Uncover Their Hidden Life Of Crime

How well do you really know the people around you? When investigators discovered a peculiar asset in the home of a New Mexico couple, nobody could believe the odd details that emerged. Yet every piece of evidence further confirmed that this well-loved pair had really pulled off one of the biggest crimes New Mexico ever saw.

Average Joes

Rita and Jerry Alter always seemed like regular middle-class Americans. They lived off a modest teacher's salary and had lived in Cliff, New Mexico, since the late 1970s. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Cultured Man

Jerry loved adventure, art, and traveling. In fact, he had written and self-published several books about his experiences in over 140 different countries. Certainly not the type of guy you'd take for a crook.

A Devoted Woman

His beloved wife Rita was a beacon of kindness, patience, and positivity. She was working as a speech pathologist in the public school system, and she was always there to support Jerry in everything he undertook.

Mostly Private

Despite their friendly demeanor, the Alters kept to themselves. Their neighbors reported that they were a lovely couple but hard to really know, which explains how they were able to keep a secret for decades.