News Article

A Frederick fifth-grade student submitted a poster that represented Colorado as part of the National Missing Children’s Day campaign sponsored by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Every year the Department of Justice holds a national Missing Children's Day poster contest open to all fifth-grade students across the country. The purpose is to promote awareness among teachers, parents/guardians and children and engage them in discussions about safety. 

Here is an update from the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office regarding the Jeremiah Villarreal death investigation.

At this time there is no further information. The investigation continues. Results from the autopsy are pending.

The original news release is below:

On Monday, April 17, 2023, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s office requested assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with a missing person investigation.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) participated in the Columbine High School Day of Service on April 20, 2023. The agency held a donation drive to collect food, toiletries, clothing and other supplies through April 20, the 24th anniversary of the Columbine shooting to help others in need,

CBI collected more than 660 items for Movement 5280, which provides a "family of support" to homeless youth who have aged out of foster care and other at-risk young people lacking guidance as they transition to adulthood.

On Monday, April 17, 2023, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s office requested assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with a missing person investigation.

At approximately 11:55 am. Tuesday, April 18, 2023, a body was located in Lake Pagosa by Colorado Parks and Wildlife Marine Evidence Recovery Team. It was positively identified as Jeremiah Villarreal of Pagosa Springs. The next of kin has been notified.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is proud to announce that the No. 8 person on the Top 100 Most Wanted Sex Offenders list was arrested in Denver on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Johnny Valdez (DOB: 09/30/1978) was arrested by Denver Police officers and agents with the CBI. CBI had received an anonymous tip with information regarding a possible location for Valdez and coordinated with DPD to make the arrest. 

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation's (CBI’s) four forensic labs are busy during this week’s visit from ANAB accreditation assessors from around the nation. It’s all part of a very stringent re-accreditation process that began Monday and continues through Friday.

Shanley Garrett, quality manager for the CBI's forensics labs, says the accreditation is a critical component  of the labs’ overall integrity. 

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s four Forensic Services labs are preparing for their four-year reaccreditation assessment. The weeklong process begins the first week of April.

The laboratories are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). Accreditation is based on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards, the ANAB Forensic Science Testing and Calibration supplemental requirements, and FBI Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing and DNA Databasing Laboratories.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is proud to announce its forensic labs were nationally recognized as a “OSAC Standards Implementer” for their application of high-quality standards and practices in forensic science by the National Institutes of Science and Technology (NIST)-sponsored Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).

The Ignacio Police Department has requested the assistance of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a 2009 cold case homicide investigation.

Larry Fuller, 49, was shot and killed while walking home from the Sidekick Bar in Ignacio on Jan. 1, 2009, less than two hours into the New Year. He had been at the bar at 677 Goddard Avenue with his wife Paula Silva when he decided to walk home alone.

While walking home, Fuller, a diesel mechanic, was shot in the 300 block of Goddard Avenue. He died at the scene. Fuller, a father of four, had moved to Colorado in 2000.

A babysitter has been arrested in the death of a 23-month-old girl in Conejos County.

Denise Cordova (DOB: 03/03/1975) was taken into custody by the Conejos County Sheriff's Office Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. 

The sheriff's office began investigating after the child was transported to a local hospital Jan. 31, 2023 with life-threatening injuries. The child later died. At the time of the incident, the child was in the care of babysitter Cordova.

CBI was asked to assist with the investigation.