A woman reported missing in July was found dead in Boulder County and her boyfriend is the prime suspect, sheriff’s officials said.
Andres Eloy Martinez Perez, 31, was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder and domestic violence in the death of his girlfriend, 37-year-old Gaudy Garcia Pina, according to Boulder sheriff’s officials.
Pina’s body was discovered in a field northwest of Lyons in September, but investigators struggled to identify her. Sheriff’s officials originally said they couldn’t even determine the body’s gender “due to the condition of the remains” and decomposition.
It’s unclear how long the woman’s body was in the field before she was found.
The coroner’s office was able to estimate the woman’s age and physical characteristics during an autopsy, which investigators used to begin researching missing persons reports statewide, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators found a Denver Police Department missing person report that matched the case, contacted the family to get a DNA sample and used rapid DNA analysis to identify Pina, according to Boulder officials.
Pina was originally from Venezuela and had been living in Denver with Martinez Perez, who sheriff’s officials said is a Denver resident. She was reported missing on July 15.
Martinez Perez was arrested on Dec. 6 and booked into Boulder County Jail. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be added.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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