Weld County authorities arrested two people early Monday in connection to a 2015 homicide in which detectives believe two men from Oklahoma were ambushed, robbed and killed before their bodies were left in a burning truck near Nunn.
Samuel Lucas Pinney, 34, and Samantha Lynn Simmons, 27, have been arrested for investigation of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery and two counts of murder in the first-degree and felony murder, according to a news release from Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams.
They also are under investigation for second-degree arson, criminal mischief and abuse of a corpse .
The bodies of were found in the rear passenger compartment of a burning truck near the intersection of Weld County roads 96 and 57 near Nunn on Oct. 17, according to a news release. Examination determined the vehicle was in park when it was found.
Autopsy reports later confirmed that both victims were dead prior to the fire and there was evidence that suggested a gunshot wound to the head. A shell casing was also found in the truck during processing for evidence.
Detectives learned from sources that Foster traveled to Colorado on at least three other occasions in an attempt to purchase
A third suspect in the case, Nathaniel Lee Youngman, 26, who was arrested on April 8, has been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.
Pinney, Simmons and Youngman are being held in the Weld County Jail.
The Weld County SWAT team deployed Monday at a residence on the 1200 block of Moore Drive in Gilcrest to serve a “high-risk felony warrant” for Pinney and Simmons.
The SWAT team also arrested Brian Dale Cosper, 32, for a parole violation. Cosper is also being held at the Weld County jail.
Pinney has an extensive criminal record dating back to 2000 for arrests mostly related to theft.
On Oct. 17, he was arrested for felony menacing with a weapon on the same day that the burning truck was found. He was released on a $25,000 bond on Dec. 7, according to court records.
He was arrested for charges of theft and escape in 2005. He had also been convicted of first-degree trespassing in 2000.
Cosper was arrested on kidnapping and attempted robbery charges. He entered a plea agreement in which the kidnapping charge was dropped and he was sentenced to two years in prison for an attempted robbery conviction.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or denverpost.com/coldcases
