Suspect sought after remains of 3 found in southern Colorado

DENVER — Authorities in southern Colorado said Wednesday they are searching for a suspect in connection with the discovery of the remains of three people near a rural hamlet.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and local police agencies identified the suspect as Adre Jordan Baroz, said a homicide warrant has been issued for his arrest and that he goes by the nickname “Pyscho.”

Searches conducted on Nov. 10 and Nov. 13 discovered the skeletal remains of the people on two properties near Las Sauces, a tiny community about 20 miles (32 kilometres) from the small city of Alamosa, said Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther. None of the remains have been identified.

Authorities declined comment on how Baroz, 26, may be connected to the discovery of the remains. They said he is commonly known as “Psycho” in the area but did not elaborate.

Alamosa Police Chief Ken Anderson told reporters that authorities consider Baroz armed and dangerous and that any sightings should be reported to police.

Authorities from at least four sheriff’s offices, police departments in Colorado’s San Luis Valley agricultural region and state investigators have formed a task force to investigate the case.

“The San Luis valley is very small. It’s a tight-knit community,” Anderson. “Most of us have grown up here. … We’re just trying to keep the community safe right now.”

It was not known if any of the remains are linked to any missing persons cases in the region, which borders New Mexico, said George Dingfelder, the police chief of the small community of Monte Vista.

Dingfelder said authorities got a search warrant for a property near Las Sauces, found human remains there and then found more on a nearby property.

Identification of the remains could take weeks, if not months, and it isn’t known whether the remains are male, female, what age they may be or how long they were at the properties, Dingfelder said.

Authorities are still searching the second property “to ensure all remains and all evidence is found,” said Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowder.

Baroz is from the tiny town of Sanford, near Las Sauces, Anderson said.

“Our priority is to get him into custody and identify the remains,” said John Camper, deputy director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation .

James Anderson, The Associated Press