Albuquerque Video Store Murders Spiral into Manhunt

A triple homicide at a video store in 1996 led to a search for two missing relatives of one of the victims.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In March 1996, an employee at an Albuquerque Hollywood Video store discovered the bodies of three coworkers who had been shot dead. As investigators arrived, the case took an unexpected turn when two women identified themselves as the cousins of one of the victims, Zachary Blacklock, and reported that Zachary's grandparents, George and Pauline McDougall, were missing. With three homicides and two people missing, authorities raced to find the grandparents and any suspects.

Why it matters

The triple homicide at the video store shook the Albuquerque community and sparked a complex investigation that would captivate the city. The case highlights the devastating impact of violent crime and the challenges law enforcement faces in solving such cases, especially when new developments emerge that complicate the investigation.

The details

The victims were identified as 30-year-old store manager Mylinh Daothi, 19-year-old Zachary Blacklock, and 18-year-old Jowanda Castillo. Zachary's cousins, Holly and Heather Lawrence, reported that his grandparents, George and Pauline McDougall, were missing after they had planned to pick Zachary up from his shift. Investigators now had to contend with three homicides and two missing persons, dramatically expanding the scope of the case.

  • The incident occurred on March 3, 1996, when an employee arrived for her Sunday morning shift at the Hollywood Video store.
  • Zachary Blacklock had recently graduated from Cibola High School and was planning to attend art school in Colorado.

The players

Mylinh Daothi

The 30-year-old store manager who was one of the three victims killed at the Hollywood Video store.

Zachary Blacklock

The 19-year-old victim who had recently graduated from Cibola High School and was planning to attend art school in Colorado.

Jowanda Castillo

The 18-year-old victim who was a senior at Highland High School and played on the basketball team.

George and Pauline McDougall

The grandparents of victim Zachary Blacklock who were reported missing after they had planned to pick him up from his shift.

Holly and Heather Lawrence

The cousins of victim Zachary Blacklock who reported their grandparents, the McDougalls, as missing.

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What they’re saying

“We weren't just dealing now with three people being shot and killed. Now we're dealing with two other people who are missing, and they're related to one of the victims.”

— Augusta Meyers, Former KOAT anchor and reporter (KOAT)

What’s next

Investigators continued their search for the missing McDougalls and any suspects connected to the triple homicide at the video store.

The takeaway

The Albuquerque video store murders shook the community and sparked a complex investigation that grew to include two missing persons related to one of the victims. The case highlights the devastating impact of violent crime and the challenges law enforcement faces in solving such cases when new developments emerge that complicate the investigation.