NM governor’s barber dies after found beaten near site of annual Santa Fe festival

Police investigate death of barber of NM governor

SANTA FE, N.M. — Police are investigating the death of a man who was found beaten in the middle of the street just blocks from a huge Santa Fe festival.

Police say 44-year-old Gilbert Roybal was taken off of life support Sunday. Roybal was a hair salon owner and Gov. Bill Richardson’s barber. Police have no suspects or motive.

The body was found near the burning of Zozobra, also known as Old Man Gloom. Thousands gather each year to watch the 50-foot Zozobra marionette go up in flames. The ritual is supposed to rid people of all the bad things that happened in the past year.

A gang-related shooting in 1997 prompted the city to move the event to Thursday from Friday and to not allow food booths to open after the burning.