EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – El Paso County deputies arrested a suspect in late May who was connected to a missing at-risk adult investigation that started in September.
El Paso County deputies said they arrested 69-year-old Eugene Romero on May 22 after receiving evidence related to kidnapping and sexual assault.
Deputies said on Sept. 24 they received reports of a missing at-risk adult who was last seen around 1:30 p.m. at the person’s residence. The reporting party was concerned for the victim’s well-being.
Using a phone-tracking app, deputies said the reporting party believed the missing person was at a residence in the 2700 block of Robinson Street, a trailer park in unincorporated El Paso County.
Manitou Springs police searched the area, deputies said, and a neighbor believed the person was inside a trailer.
Deputies said officers knocked on the door, and Romero refused to open it but spoke with officers through a bedroom window.
Deputies said Romero admitted another person was inside the residence during questioning. Officers located the missing person and positively identified the person inside the trailer. The person was asked to come outside.
Romero denied any wrongdoing, saying he would “never risk his freedom,” deputies said.
The victim, who deputies said has an intellectual disability, could not articulate details of the events but displayed signs of sexual assault and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Due to the nature of the investigation, officers required assistance from El Paso County detectives.
On Sept. 30, detectives secured search warrants for Romero’s residence and one for his body to collect DNA swabs, deputies said. The DNA swabs and additional evidence were sent for testing.
Additionally, detectives conducted interviews with the victim, who deputies said provided details that indicated sexual assault and kidnapping.
On May 14, detectives received DNA results from swabs collected from the victim and suspect, confirming a match to other evidence in this case, deputies said.
Deputies said on May 22 they arrested Romero at his residence. He was booked into the El Paso County jail on charges related to second-degree kidnapping, crimes against at-risk persons, sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact and false imprisonment.
ourt records Thursday morning show Romero is being held on a $75,000 bond.
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