2 facing charges connected to murder, setting body on fire and I-25 crash near Mead

DENVER (KDVR) — Two suspects are facing charges of first-degree murder in connection with a body found ablaze at the Stevens Gulch Picnic Area and a crash on Interstate 25 near Mead that closed the highway for hours.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests on Wednesday and said the Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire Department had been dispatched on April 11 before 5 a.m. to a reported fire under the bridge at Stevens Gulch Picnic Area, which is on Poudre Canyon Road. The agency "discovered an obviously deceased person who was on fire."

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office investigated the scene and the Larimer County Coroner's Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, identified the decedent as Gerardo Hernandez Lucio, 49, of Greeley. The coroner's office said his cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.

Through forensic evidence and information gathering, investigators identified Isaac Valdez-Salvador, 32, as the murder suspect and Juana Espino, 37, as a co-conspirator in the weapon purchase and homicide.

The sheriff's office said the suspects and the victim were associated with each other.

“This was a disturbing case that started with a lot of unknowns. Our investigators have worked nonstop for the last week to gather crucial evidence, identify the victim’s associates, locate the suspects, and build a strong case that resulted in these charges,” said Captain Bobby Moll, who leads the Investigations Division, in a release. “This wouldn’t have been possible without our regional partners and this team’s unwavering dedication to public safety. If you bring violent crime into our county, we’ll find you.”

On April 14, deputies attempted a traffic stop on Valdez-Salvador near the intersection of Rocky Mountain Avenue and Highway 34 in Loveland. He drove away, and deputies pursued, according to the sheriff's office.

The agency said Valdez-Salvador was seen driving recklessly during the chase at speeds over 100 mph, passing vehicles on the shoulder and hitting traffic cones in construction zones. Authorities also said on April 14 that the vehicle Valdez-Salvador used was reported stolen out of Denver.

The suspect vehicle stopped on I-25 at milepost 245 in Mead due to a flat tire, the sheriff's office reported, and the suspect fled the vehicle with a handgun. Deputies said he jumped the center median and was hit by a car in the northbound lanes of I-25. Valdez-Salvador reportedly sustained serious injuries but is recovering.

Valdez-Salvador is facing felony charges of:

• First-degree murder after deliberation
• Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder after deliberation
• Tampering with a deceased human body
• Motor vehicle theft
• Vehicular eluding
• Tampering with physical evidence

According to court records, Valdez-Salvador has not been given a bond. There is no new court date filed online as of publication.

Espino was arrested on April 18 and is facing felony charges of:

• First-degree murder after deliberation
• Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder after deliberation
• Unlawful purchase of firearms
• Tampering with physical evidence

Espino was denied bond and she remains in the Weld County Jail. She is scheduled to appear for a status conference in court on June 20.

The sheriff's office said the case investigators believe Lucio, the victim, was murdered in Weld County several days before the fire on April 11. The case will be prosecuted in the 19th Judicial District because of that.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the suspects or incident should contact Larimer County Sheriff's Office Investigator Ryan Gebhardt at 970-498-5586. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can contact the Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or stopcriminals.org.