More arrests in mysterious murder of Colorado teens

Natalie Partida, 16, and Derek Greer, 15, were found dead on the side of the road

On Saturday, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office announced they arrested four more people in connection with the slayings of two Colorado teens.

The bodies of Natalie Partida, 16, and Derek Greer, 15, were discovered roadside miles from Colorado Springs on March 12. Though the pair’s deaths were ruled homicides, an official cause of death won’t be disclosed until toxicology tests are carried out, according to The Gazette.

“Our office will not release cause and manner of death until all of the autopsy results are back, which generally takes six to eight weeks,” spokeswoman Sandy Way said, according to the Denver Post.

The Daily Mail reported that the two Colorado High School students were friends and would chat on Facebook. Days before her murder, Partida supposedly posted about going back to a juvenile detention center and getting her life together.

“Man I got to do it for my moms an me got to start my life an get my s*** together jail ain’t fun but neither is waiting around,” the 16-year-old wrote.

Authorities said Diego Chacon, 19, Joseph Arthur Rodriquez, 18, and Marco Antonio Garcia-Bravo, 20, are facing two counts of second-degree kidnapping and first-degree murder charges, KMGH reported.

The suspects were booked on multiple charges. Chacon, Rodriguez, and Garcia-Bravo were also charged with aggravated robbery and child abuse. Alexandra Marie Romero, 20, who was charged with second-degree kidnapping and accessory, was also wanted for aggravated motor vehicle theft at the time of her arrest.

Their arrests come days after Gustavo Marquez, 19, was brought into custody in connection with the killings. Marquez was charged with first-degree murder along with aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and one count of child abuse (for Greer’s death).

KRDO reported that details surrounding Marquez’s relation to the teens and motive aren’t being released at this time.

 Marquez is currently being held without bail at El Paso County jail. The four newest suspects were booked into the Criminal Justice Center.
Photo: Police handout