Had been put on probation four times
A former Jefferson resident who is now homeless was planning to return to Jefferson when he was arrested and charged with first degree murder Monday.
Collin Daniel Richards, 22, was arrested in connection with the death of Celia Barquin Arozamena, the 2018 Big 12 women’s golf champion and Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year for 2018.
Barquin Arozamena was found dead in a pond at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames late Monday morning. A search had been started after golfers found a golf bag with no one nearby.
After finding Barquin Arozamena’s body, searchers went to a wooded area near the golf course. There they talked with a man who implicated Richards in the crime, saying Richards talked about “an urge to rape and kill women”. A K9 unit from the Boone sheriff’s office tracked the golfer’s scent to the wooded area.
Police found Richards at the wooded area at about 2 pm Monday. According to Ames police commander Geoff Huff, he had asked a friend for a ride to Jefferson, but first returned to get his tent. Richards is considered homeless and was living in the wooded area. Evidence was found at the camp that connects Richards to the murder, and Richards had fresh scratches on his face and a cut on his hand.
Richards has a criminal history. He was placed on probation for two years in Greene County in 2015 after he pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a vehicle, rolling it, and then stealing a second vehicle. Drugs were found in his vehicle at the time of his arrest. Also in 2015, he was placed on probation for two years in Guthrie County for harassment and another two years for criminal mischief. He was put on probation in Guthrie County for two years for theft and burglary in 2016.
The Ames PD, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, the ISU public safety department, the Iowa State patrol, the Boone County sheriff’s office and STAR11 search and rescue team assisted in the search and subsequent investigation.
