DENVER — The Denver Police Department said Tuesday they have identified suspect in the homicide case of 26-year-old James Montoya and need the public's help in finding him.
Police also said at a news conference that a woman was arrested as an accessory in the case. Montoya was last seen leaving a Lakewood bar in the early morning hours of April 2 after playing pool. His remains were found in July in Saguache County – about 175 miles away.
Denver Police Cmdr. Matt Clark said at the news conference that Montoya left the Hangar 101 Bar with a group of people in the early hours of April 2.
Later on, Montoya was in a car with 33-year-old Jesus Arvizo around the area of 48th Avenue and Bannock Street. Montoya and Arvizo got into an argument that escalated to Arvizo shooting and killing Montoya, police said.
Arvizo then drove Montoya's body to Saguache County in southern Colorado and dumped it near the Saguache Municipal Airport, Clark said.
"This is the worst nightmare a family can experience," said Corinna Montoya, James' mother said. "He's a dangerous person, and our family is in pain. We'd like a final resolution to this case."
Montoya's father, Eddie Montoya said he had spoken to the suspect over the phone shortly after his son went missing.
"He said, 'Oh, he was a cool guy. We were playing pool, yea really cool guy and we dropped him off at the club and that was the last time we saw him,'" Eddie Montoya said as he recalled the phone conversation. "I don’t want to say this too boastfully or whatever but we knew he was a suspect. We knew something was wrong the minute we were talking to him on the phone and we could pick up on his tone of voice, the way he was avoiding question so we knew he was there and that he was responsible for it."
On July 26, human remains were found in Saguache County that were later determined to be Montoya’s.
On Sept. 5, Amber Dominguez, 30, was arrested as an accessory in the case. She was inside the car when Montoya was killed, police said.
On Tuesday, Denver Police and Montoya's family asked for the public's help in finding Arvizo, who is wanted for first-degree murder. Arvizo lives in Denver but is believed to be in the Alamosa area, police said.
Montoya's father, Eddie, shared a message to Arvizo at Tuesday's news conference.
"If you hear this Jesus, I just wanted to say I did warn you that this day would come," he explained. "You’ve hurt a family. We’ve all hurt people but it’s not too late come on down, bud. It’s time to pay the piper we’re here, we’re not going to stop until we do find you."
"Jesus, if you're seeing this, please turn yourself in," said Jaali Montoya, James' younger sister added. "Think of it as your family you’re only making it harder for yourself by running.”
Denver Police investigators ask anyone with information on this case and/or Arvizo’s whereabouts to please call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867), where they can remain anonymous.
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Metro Denver Crime Stoppers works by assigning a code to people who anonymously submit a tip. Information is shared with law enforcement, and Crime Stoppers is notified at the conclusion of the investigation.
From there, an awards committee reviews the information provided and, if the information leads to an arrest, the tipster will be notified. Rewards can be collected using the code numbers received when the tip was originally submitted.
> More information about Metro Denver Crime Stoppers can be found here.
> Additional Crime Stoppers bulletins can be found here.