Jose Bustamante (Englewood Police Department)
Authorities in Colorado are searching for a 41-year-old man who they say killed a 41-year-old woman two months ago, shooting her and discarding her body in an alley.
A $5 million cash-only warrant was issued Wednesday for Jose Bustamante, wanted on one count of first-degree murder in the slaying of Suany Melgar Almendarez, police said.
The warrant means Bustamante’s arrest will trigger a $5 million bond before he can be released from custody. That bond will be subject to revision or revocation if and when he appears before a judge.
In addition to the murder charge, Bustamante faces one count of tampering with a body, police said.
According to a press release from the Englewood Police Department, officers responded on the afternoon of Sept. 11 to the area of Vallejo Street and Adriatic Place about a body. Once there, first responders found the body of Almendarez, who appeared to have been murdered and then placed in the alley sometime throughout the night, authorities said.
Investigators believe Almendarez was shot and killed sometime during the night of Sept. 10.
While police were looking into the circumstances of Almendarez’s slaying, detectives identified a 2010 blue Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with Colorado plates as possibly being involved in her death.
Detectives found the vehicle on Oct. 12, and evidence from it that they said identified Bustamante as the primary suspect in Almendarez’s slaying. Officials were offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to him.
Almendarez’s daughter, Suany Karelia Figueroa, told Denver Fox affiliate KDVR that her mother was going to dinner with friends and never came home.
“The truth is we are having a very hard time not knowing who did this to my mom and why,” she said.
She described her as a great person.
“I just want justice because she did not deserve this,” Figueroa said, the station reported. “If you have more information, please go talk to police.”
Anybody with information is asked to call 911. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
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