According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s office, officers have arrested 19-year-old Gustavo Antonio Marquez, who is now facing two charges each of murder in the first degree, kidnapping, child abuse and aggravated robbery. The charges stem from the murder of two Colorado Springs teens, Derek Benjamin Greer, 15 and 16-year-old Natalie Partida, whose bodies were found on the side of Old Pueblo Road on March 12. Their bodies were discovered by a passing motorist on the highway, close to the Pikes Peak International Raceway. As reported by The Washington Post, both teenagers attended the Coronado High School.
While officials are still not saying the cause of the teenagers’ deaths, they reportedly booked Marquez late on Sunday evening. Marquez is now being held in the El Paso County Jail without bond and the suspect appeared in court on Monday afternoon.
The suspected killer of two Colorado Springs teenagers has a criminal record
According to state court records, Marquez was arrested by the Fountain Police Department on February 24 on two misdemeanor and two felony charges, including second-degree assault with attempt to do serious bodily harm, second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault. Reportedly Marquez posted a $5,000 bond on February 27 and then appeared in court on March 8. According to a spokeswoman for the El Paso sheriff’s office, she was not aware of any connection between that case and the current arrest for the murder of the Colorado Springs teens.
2 found dead Sunday ID'd as Springs teenagers: The two people found dead on the side of a road Sunday south of… https://t.co/UGmhmsbEvG
— Cherry Creek Buzz (@CherryCreekBuzz) March 14, 2017
Marquez has previously had restraining orders filed against him
Digging deeper into the court records showed that Marquez had also had two restraining orders filed against him previously, but according to ABC News, neither of these related to the teenagers who were killed.
After Marquez’s arrest, investigations are reportedly still ongoing and police are asking the public for any possible information on the two murders. Anyone with information should contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s office. Fox 31 Denver reports that according to the spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, the suspect’s affidavit is currently sealed.
