New Surprising Revelations in Nikki Alcaraz Case as Bodycam Footage Shows Deputy's Response to Domestic Violence Incident

The murder of Gabby Petito at the hands of her fiancé Brian Laundrie raised much awareness about why domestic violence should be taken seriously. Prior to going missing, the 22-year-old was involved in a domestic violence incident, after a witness called 911 after observing her and Laundrie fighting in Utah. The two attempted to downplay the series of events, which were recorded in bodycam footage, and police let them go. However, later that month Petito disappeared, and it was later revealed that Laundrie killed her via strangulation. Now, a similar type of case involving the disappearance of a woman also involved in a domestic dispute with her boyfriend is eerily reminding people of Petito's death – and there is even similar bodycam footage to boot. 

Nikki Alcaraz, 33, was missing for most of the month of May, shortly after police investigated a domestic violence incident on May 4 involving the mother and her boyfriend, Steven Tyler Stratton. The incident was reported by Jordan Hamilton, a trucker on I-40 in Torrance County, New Mexico. 

Hamilton called the police after reportedly witnessing Stratton punching Alcaraz in the face. In his chilling 911 call, Alcaraz can be heard screaming in the background. 

Now, Law & Crime has obtained the bodycam footage captured by Deputy Erwin Young, who responded to the scene on May 4. In the video, Alcaraz tells the officer that she has been with Stratton for 16 years. She then asked him for a lighter, looking confused when he said he didn't have one. 

"I'm done. I'm over it. I want his ass thrown in goddamn jail," Alcaraz says about Stratton. The officer walks over to Stratton, who is sitting on the ground next to his car. "Hello, sir," the deputy says to him. "Put your hands behind your back."

Stratton, who has blood on his face, was handcuffed, barefoot, with a cigarette in his mouth. He denies drunk driving or even driving at all. "Well, someone had to be driving," the deputy said.

He proceeds to place Stratton in the back of the squad car and continues speaking with Alcaraz. "I'm over it. I'm over it," she sobbed. "I'm pressing charges," she repeated. 

According to the deputy's incident report, Stratton claims that while he was driving, Alcaraz "hit him in the mouth for no reason" and that "Nikki does blackouts after drinking liquor." The incident report states that the couple was drinking Fireball and beer.

"I noticed the driver's seat to have been pushed back to indicate a taller person was driving. I noticed numerous blood spatter on the passenger side door which would have come from Mr. Stratton since he was the only one with visible blood on his face. I also noticed blood on the running board. It was determined that both parties were mutual combatants while traveling down the interstate. The bruise on Ms. Alcaraz's arms came from Mr. Stratton holding her down to avoid being hit," the incident report states 

Eventually, Alcaraz insisted that she didn't want to press charges. "Deputies spoke with both subjects again, and neither one would admit to driving the vehicle, and they were both intoxicated. Mr.Stratton and Ms. Alcaraz stated that they did not want to assist with any charges being filed. Both Subjects were given a ride from the scene. Ms. Alcaraz was transported to Moriarty, NM. Mr. Stratton will be dropped off in Edgewood, NM," authorities said, concluding that they were "mutual combatants."

A few days later Nikki reportedly texted her sister, saying she was in Arizona. Then, they didn't hear from her for weeks, so they filed a police report. However, there was a significant development over Memorial Day Weekend. 

"On May 30, 2023, at around 4:30 P.M., the Redding Police Department learned Missing Person Nikki Alcaraz was contacted earlier today by the Eureka Police Department and found to be safe," the department said in a statement.

"The Redding Police Department has been in contact with the Moriarty, New Mexico Police Department and confirmed Nikki is no longer considered a missing person. The Redding Police Department would like to thank our allied agency partners who assisted with efforts to locate Nikki," the Redding Police Department announced in a statement.