The body of Gregorio Salazar Campos, 33, was found on the morning of Sunday, April 7 in the water near the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Colorado River.
“The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the victim,” said Sheriff Steve White.
Campos was first reported missing on March 29. Local authorities received a tip on Saturday, April 6 that allowed them to find the body.
Two males, age 16, were taken into custody.
Charles Anthony Nelson and Brody Blu Kruckenberg were each charged with first degree murder and obstructing justice in the seventh district court. The two juveniles are being charged as adults.
“Anyone 16 years of age or older, if there is a charge of murder or aggravated murder, it is tried in district court,” said county attorney Andrew Fitzgerald. “In this case, there is no choice. District court has jurisdiction.”
According to court documents filed by the county attorney’s office, the two are charged for a crime that occurred on or about March 25.
First degree murder is defined as intentionally or knowingly causing the death of another; intending to cause serious bodily injury of another, committing an act clearly dangerous to human life that caused the death of another; and/ or acting under circumstances evidencing a depraved indifference to human life, knowingly engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death to another and thereby caused the death of another.
Obstruction of justice is a second degree felony for the intent to delay, prevent the investigation, apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment regarding conduct that constituted a criminal offense.
The last person to be charged with murder in Grand County was in 2010, said Fitzgerald. Andrew Todd Curtis was charged with first degree murder for the slaying of William Paul Tague of Denver in the Denny’s restaurant parking lot on Dec. 12, 2010.
Nelson and Kruckenberg will be held in the Grand County Jail until they make their initial appearance before Judge Lyle Anderson to make sure the defendants have attorneys and to establish bail. If they cannot afford an attorney, they will be appointed one, Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said that the charges are allegations only and that the investigation is still ongoing.
“The suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty,” Fitzgerald said.
Charles Anthony Nelson is a junior at Grand County High School. Brody Blue Kruckenberg has not attended the high school, said principal Steve Hren.
A third arrest has been made during the investigation of the slaying of Campos.
Corina Yardley, 44, the mother of Brody Kruckenberg, was charged with obstruction of justice. She was arrested on Monday, April 7 and is booked in the Grand County Jail on a $10,000 cash only bail. Obstruction of justice is considered a second-degree felony.
