Arrest made in Colo. dragging death

[stu]

Authorities on Thursday were still trying to identify a woman who was dragged to death behind a vehicle for more than a mile and left near a photograph of the man accused of killing her.

 

The battered, disfigured body was discovered early Monday along a subdivision road north of Castle Rock, about 20 miles south of Denver. Preliminary autopsy results found that the woman suffered fatal head injuries and was strangled as she was dragged.

 

Jose Luis Rubi-Nava, 36, was being held without bail on a charge of first-degree murder.

 

Spokeswomen for the district attorney, the Douglas County sheriff and the coroner declined to comment Thursday. Rubi-Nava's public defender, Kathleen McGuire, did not immediately return a call.

 

A judge sealed court documents and said he would consider McGuire's request for a gag order.

 

In his only public statement since the arrest, Sheriff Dave Weaver did not say how the arrest was made or how the few known clues fit into the case.

 

Among those clues is a widely circulated photograph found somewhere near the crime scene showing Rubi-Nava standing beside an unidentified woman, his right arm resting on her shoulder. Weaver said Wednesday he did not know whether the woman in the photo is the victim.

 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said they believe Rubi-Nava is an illegal immigrant from Mexico.

 

Denver police confirmed Thursday they arrested Rubi-Nava on a traffic charge in April but released him.

 

Police spokeswoman Virginia Quinones said the arresting officer suspected Rubi-Nava's identification may have been forged, but she said the department was not responsible for verifying a suspect's immigration status, and a new Colorado law directing police to cooperate with federal immigration officers was not yet in force.

 

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