Colorado authorities arrested a man suspected of murdering a woman whose body was discovered in a suitcase that had been tossed into a dumpster, the Denver Post reports.
Officers also arrested Cuevas’ 36-year-old wife, Melanie Ann Cuevas, who was being held on a warrant for criminal impersonation.
The arrests come after investigators on Thursday released surveillance video of a man driving up to a dumpster at a car wash early that morning, taking a suitcase from the trunk and throwing it away. Investigators believe that person was Anthony Cuevas.
Police found the suspect’s vehicle — a small, blue, four-door car — on Friday and executed search warrants around the city looking for him, according to Sgt. Franklyn Ortega of the Pueblo Police Department.
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Investigators were processing at least three potential crime scenes since the suitcase was discovered: the dumpster, a home in Pueblo and a nearby state park, according to KRDO-TV.
The victim has yet to identified publicly. However, police say she had a distinctive tattoo of a female clown on her right thigh; she also had been wearing an Air Force t-shirt and shorts with the logo of M&M candies.
KRDO-TV reports that multiple people have posted pictures of Cuevas on Facebook and said he killed his mother. Authorities have not confirmed the information.
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Police initially were not sure if the body was real or if it was a Halloween prop, according to KKTV. Investigators eventually towed the entire dumpster from the scene.
To report information about the case, contact the Pueblo Police Department at 719-553-2420 or send an anonymous tip at pueblocrimestoppers.com.
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[Feature Photo: Pueblo PD security footage screenshot]