PUEBLO, Colo.—Authorities say a 64-year-old neighbor has been arrested in the death of a Pueblo teen whose partially nude body was found in trash bag in a field near her home.
The Pueblo County sheriff’s office says Paul Wayne Stark of Pueblo was arrested Monday on suspicion of first-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Ashley Patterson. He was jailed on $1 million bond.
Authorities say Ashley went for a walk Sunday, and her mother, Jennifer Patterson, got worried when she didn’t come home and reported the girl missing at 3 p.m.
Ashley’s body was found about an hour later in a large prairie field in Pueblo West after deputies brought a tracking dog to her neighborhood.
The arrest affidavit says the girl’s body was found in a black trash bag, and her hands were tied behind her back. The cause of death hasn’t been released. The affidavit said the girl was killed but there were no apparent signs of trauma. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.
Investigators say they traced the crime to Stark after following tire tracks from the girl’s body to his home. Ashley was friends with Stark’s 12-year-old grandson, the affidavit said.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Stark’s home and discovered an earring matching one found under the girl’s body. They also found one of her tennis shoes under a bed with bloodstained sheets, the affidavit said.
In addition, investigators found several items linked to the girl in a trash bin outside Stark’s home, the affidavit said.
At a news conference Monday, Sheriff Kirk Taylor called the girl’s death a chilling tragedy for his staff and the community, but credited investigators for moving quickly and making an arrest.
“This is a very heinous crime that touches each and every one of us in our community,” Taylor said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Miss Patterson’s mother.”
Charlene Graham, the sheriff’s law enforcement bureau chief, said Stark, a retiree, did not appear to have a criminal record.
Deputy Laurie Kilpatrick said Stark had an attorney, but she didn’t know the attorney’s name. Attempts to leave a phone message for Stark at the jail were unsuccessful.
