Update: The story of Abigail "Abby" Cozad's murder, about which we've been reporting for nearly two weeks (see our previous coverage below), keeps getting sadder — and more disturbing.
Now, information has surfaced that Cozad arrived at the motel a day before her body was found with the lower half of her body wrapped in plastic.
We also know more about Cozad's relationship with Emiliano Urioste, one of the two people (the other is Teresa Dean) charged with first-degree murder in her death.
Turns out they'd met a month before her death outside a mental health facility. Cozad suffered from the effects of a traumatic brain injury that occurred when she was a teenager.
This information and more is contained in a search warrant obtained by 9News.
According to the document, a maintenance man at the Primrose Motel saw a car driven by Dean pull up to the Federal Boulevard establishment around noon on May 31.
Dean is said to have dismounted from the vehicle, then opened the hatch for Cozad, who was swaddled in plastic wrap from her stomach to her feet, but with both legs sheathed separately, so she could walk.
The maintenance man told investigators he'd asked Cozad if she was okay, and she responded that she was.
The next morning, the car was gone and Cozad's body was in unit 1 of the Primrose "tucked into a couch," 9News reports.
Cozad died from blunt force trauma to her head and neck.
The warrant also maintains that on June 1, Urioste allegedly used Cozad's credit card at a local storage facility — one reason the charges against him and Dean include robbery.
Also noted in the document are text messages between Cozad and Urioste that followed their meeting in the mental-heath facility's parking lot. Some of them were sexually explicit, investigators say.
Continue for our previous coverage.
Update, 6:17 a.m. June 19: We've been sharing new details about the investigation into the homicide of Abigail Cozad, a young woman whose brain injury as a teenager made her too trusting, according to her grieving father.
See our previous coverage below.
The latest: the 17th Judicial District DA's office has now formally charged Emiliano Urioste and Teresea Dean with murder in the case — and has also shared Cozad's manner of passing.
She was beaten to death.
As we've reported, Cozad's body was found at the Primose Motel, 5450 Federal Boulevard, on June 1.
Urioste was subsequently named as a suspect — and he eventually turned himself in to authorities.
Dean was taken into custody days later.
Neither the Adams County Sheriff's Office nor the DA's office is sharing many details about the crime.
However, the charges pressed by prosecutors maintain that Cozad went to the motel with Urioste and Dean on May 31, and robbery is one of the charges against them.
The others: first-degree felony murder and first-degree murder after deliberation.
Dean and Urioste were advised of the charges in a court appearance yesterday. Their next appearances are scheduled for September.
Look below to see the suspects' booking photos, followed by our previous coverage.
Update, 6:29 a.m. June 15: A second arrest has been made in the Adams County homicide of Abigail "Abby" Cozad.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office had originally sought Emiliano Urioste after the body of Cozad — a young woman who'd suffered a traumatic brain injury as a teen and trusted too easily, according to her dad — was found in the Primrose Motel on Federal Boulevard the morning of June 1.
On Friday, June 12, Urioste turned himself in to authorities.
Then, yesterday, the ACSO announced that a second person, Teresa Dean, has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in the case.
Thus far, the office isn't releasing additional details about the possible connection between Urioste, Dean and Cozad, the stepdaughter of Weld County Commissioner Julie Cozad. Continue for our previous coverage.
Update, Saturday, June 12: Emiliano Urioste, the suspected killer of Abigail Cozad, turned himself in to authorities in Adams County on Friday, June 12.
That same day, Cozad was laid to rest.
Urioste is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Continue for our previous coverage to learn more about Cozad and the sad circumstances of her death.
Original post, 5:52 p.m. June 11: Abigail Cozad had a tough life, owing to a traumatic brain injury suffered as a result of an accident involving a drunk driver when she was just fifteen.
Now, Cozad is dead, victim of a homicide. Her body was found in an Adams County motel.
Now, the Adams County Sheriff's Office is on the lookout for Emiliano Urioste, the man suspected of killing her. Details below.
Cozad's father, speaking to 9News, says his daughter suffered from depression as a result of her injury. However, she seemed fine when she headed off on Saturday, May 30, to spend time with friends.
She didn't return — and at about 10 a.m. on Monday, June 1, her body was found in the Primrose Motel, 5450 Federal Boulevard. The area is captured in the following interactive graphic; if you have problems seeing the image, click "View on Google Maps."
Three days later, on June 4, the sheriff's office put out an alert for Urioste, who's said to have a criminal past that includes domestic violence allegations. In addition, law enforcers asked for folks to look for Cozad's car, a blue 2009 Honda Civic. This photo was distributed as an example of the vehicle.
Yesterday, June 10, the ACSO revealed that Cozad's car had been located. However, Urioste is still currently at large, and Cozad's father remains confused about the circumstances of his beloved daughter's death. His best guess about what led to the tragedy: Her condition tended to make her trust too easily.
Cozad will be remembered at services taking place at a Loveland funeral home tomorrow, Friday, June 12. Her online obituary describes her like so:
Abigail (Abby) Ann Cozad was born August 30th, 1983 in Wheatland, Wyoming, the daughter of Larry Cozad and Dawn (Weber) Shatzel. She and her family moved from Wheatland in 1988 to Casper, Wyoming and lived there until 1992. In 1992 the family moved to Longmont, Colorado. Abby attended Skyline High School in Longmont where she graduated in 2001. Abby participated in the swim team during high school and was also honored to be crowned prom queen her senior year. After high school, Abby attended Front Range Community College where she obtained her Associates of Arts degree. Abby loved to do pottery, photography and painting. She aspired to be a graphic or interior designer. Abby had a wonderful sense of humor and a beautiful smile.In lieu of flowers, Cozad's family asks mourner to consider donating to a memorial account that "will be used toward a brain injury treatment and awareness program. Checks can be made out to Abby Cozad Memorial Fund and mailed to the Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral home in Loveland in c/o Abby Cozad memorial fund.
As for Urioste, he's described as a five-foot six-inch, 155 pound, thirty-year-old white male with black hair and brown eyes. If you have any information about his whereabouts, you're encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). The organization is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to his capture and prosecution.
Look below to see a photo of Urioste. In the meantime, we offer our sincere condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of Abigail Cozad.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
