Two suspects were arrested last week by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and charged with first-degree murder. The suspects allegedly set a man’s body on fire in Poudre Canyon after murdering him. Larimer County Dispatch received a report in the early morning hours of April 11 for a fire at the Stevens Gulch Picnic Area. Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire Department found the deceased body when they arrived on the scene.
The Larimer County Coroner’s Office determined the suspect died of a gunshot wound. With the assistance of the FBI, the victim was identified as 49-year-old Gerardo Hernandez Lucio of Greeley.
32-year-old Isaac Valdez-Salvador of Fort Collins was identified by investigators as the murder suspect. 37-year-old Juana Espino of Evans was arrested and charged as a co-conspirator in the purchase of the murder weapon and the homicide. The press release states that the victim and suspects were associated with each other, but doesn’t describe their relationship or a potential motive.
On April 14, authorities initiated a traffic stop of Valdez-Salvador near Rocky Mountain Avenue and Highway 34 in Loveland. The suspect drove away recklessly at speeds over 100 miles per hour, and he used the shoulder to pass vehicles and hit traffic cones during the police chase. Valdez-Salvador had a flat tire near mile marker 245 in Mead. He stopped and left his vehicle with a handgun before running across the interstate. A vehicle hit him and the officers provided first aid care. The suspect was taken to the local hospital with serious injuries, but is recovering.
The two suspects are being charged in Weld County, because investigators believe the murder occurred in Weld County days before the victim’s body was discovered on fire in Poudre Canyon on April 11. Valdez-Salvador was booked into the Weld County jail on April 23 and Espino was booked on April 18. Espino was denied bond and the judge has not yet made a bond determination about Valdez-Salvador.
Captain Bobby Moll of the Investigations Division of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said that the case was “disturbing” and started with a lot of unknowns. “Our investigators have worked nonstop for the last week to gather crucial evidence, identify the victim’s associates, locate the suspects, and build a strong case that resulted in these charges,” he said. “This wouldn’t have been possible without our regional partners and this team’s unwavering dedication to public safety. If you bring violent crime into our county, we’ll find you.”
Valdez-Salvador is charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a human body, motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, and tampering with physical evidence. Espino is charged with first-degree murder, unlawful purchase of firearms, and tampering with physical evidence.
Anyone with information related to this ongoing investigation is encouraged to contact LCSO Investigator Ryan Gebhardt at 970-498-5586. Anonymous reports can also be made by contacting Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or online at www.stopcriminals.org.
