WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Westminster police have taken a suspect into custody after finding a 37-year-old woman deceased near Willowbrook Park on Thursday.
The Westminster Police Department said the suspect, Thomas Perales, 38, could face charges of second-degree murder charge, abuse of a corpse, violation of a protection order (domestic violence) and tampering with physical evidence. The district attorney's office will determine formal charges.
The police department first alerted the public about a suspicious death near Willowbrook Park around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday.
During the initial investigation, Mountain Range High School and Silver Hills Middle School were placed on "secure status," meaning exterior doors were locked and students had to stay inside, police said.
About two hours later, the police department provided more information, saying its officers had responded to the scene around 3:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a deceased person near W. 124th Avenue and Delaware Drive. The Adams County Coroner’s Office also responded.
At noon on Friday, the department said the deceased had been identified as a 37-year-old woman. Official identification will come from the coroner after next of kin is notified, they said.
The official cause of death remains "unknown" and "under investigation," police said.
At 4 p.m., police provided another update: They are now investigating this case as a homicide and had taken a suspect into custody. That person has been identified as Perales.
He was taken into custody near 120th Avenue and Interstate 25 on charges of second-degree murder charge, abuse of a corpse, violation of a protection order (domestic violence) and tampering with physical evidence, police said.
Based on the preliminary investigation, police said they believe that the deceased and Perales knew each other.
The Adams County District Attorney’s Office will determine formal charges against him.
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