State and Garfield County authorities resumed their investigation this morning into the homicide of a female victim whose body was found lying in a bag under apple trees in Garfield County.
Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario confirmed the female was the victim of foul play. The identity of the victim has not been released.
The body was removed from the orchard and an autopsy was to be performed this evening in Grand Junction.
No arrests have been announced and no suspects have been named.
The body was found shortly after 10 a.m. by a teenage boy who was working in the orchards. According to KREX-TV Channel 5 in Grand Junction, the boy told his mother that the body appeared to be that of a girl 10 to 12 years old. The girl’s body was found in a bag, partially decomposed, the station said on its website.
The orchard is five miles west of Glenwood Springs about a quarter mile north of Interstate 70, according to authorities.
A large field operation resumed this morning at 8 a.m. near Canyon Creek Road.
Garfield County Sheriff’s deputies, Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents, Garfield County search and rescue staff and Colorado State Patrol troopers have been searching the area for evidence that might shed light on the murder. Prosecutors were also at the scene.
“At this point we have enough information to suggest it was foul play,” Vallario said Friday. “We’re conducting a homicide investigation.”
CBI spokesman Lance Clem said five CBI staff members, including crime-scene investigators from the Grand Junction office, were sent to help in the investigation.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
