Two suspects in the stabbing death of a teenager at a mountain campground appeared in court in Castle Rock on Monday morning. One man was held without bail on suspicion of first-degree murder.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office identified the pair as Adrian Enrique Sanchez, 22, and Cristobal Alfredo Rios, 18. They are suspects in the death of 18-year-old Seth Hunter Payne, said Lt. Alan Stanton, a sheriff’s spokesman.
Payne died early Saturday morning after being stabbed in the neck at Rainbow Falls Park north of Woodland Park.
Sanchez, who has a lengthy arrest record dating to 1998, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records, was held on suspicion of murder, assault, theft and trespass.
Rios, who celebrated his 18th birthday just hours before the stabbing spree, was held on charges of accessory to murder, motor vehicle theft, trespassing and theft. Rios’ bail was set at $250,000.
Two other men, William Russell Mills, 20, and Darius Leon Carey, 18, also were stabbed. Carey was treated at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood and released. Mills was in stable condition at Penrose Medical Center in Colorado Springs.
The attackers fled the stabbing scene on foot, authorities said. Sanchez and Rios were later arrested in the area.
Authorities said the suspects stole a BMW and drove it to the campsite, where they got into an encounter with the other men.
Payne had attended Englewood High School, where, according to the 2004 yearbook, he played on the tennis team and excelled in math and art.
Investigators did not comment Monday on a possible motive.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
