The man suspected of murdering a standout golfer in broad daylight last month reportedly appeared at a home not far from where the body was found covered in sand and blood, and took a shower there.
The Des Moines Register reports that authorities are continuing to build a case against Collin Richards for the the September murder of Celia Barquin Arozamena, a University of Iowa star golfer ranked among the top amateurs in the U.S.
The Spanish-born 22-year-old was found dead on September 17 at the Coldwater Links golf course in Ames, Iowa. She reportedly suffered multiple stab wounds. Richards was apprehended shortly afterward and has since pleaded not guilty to the young woman’s murder. He is set for trial in January.
Investigators reportedly uncovered a Facebook profile believed to be belong to the suspect, with a public photo of a person holding a coffee cup with the caption: “Let’s go commit a murder.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, investigators found three knives possibly connected to the suspect: Two at a home where he showered after the slaying, and one at a campground where officers reportedly found him.
It remains unclear how he entered the home where he took a shower or exactly where it is located. The Des Moines Register reports that an unidentified witness confirmed that Richards was covered in sand and blood when he arrived to the home, and that he bathed there, taking blood-stained clothes with him in a backpack when he left. He reportedly rode a Huffy bicycle to the home but left that behind as well.
The relationship between the suspect and the witness is not known.
Authorities have preserved evidence collected at the home, including the bicycle.
If Richards is convicted of the murder, he faces life in prison.