Two people are now facing murder charges - six months after two bodies were found inside a burned-out truck in Weld County.
The truck was found at the intersection of County Road 57 and County Road 96, near Nunn, on October 17, 2015. The truck was in park.
MORE | 2 people found dead in burned-out truck in Weld County
Autopsy reports later confirmed that both victims were dead before the truck caught fire. Investigators said there was evidence suggestive of a gunshot wound to the head.
The victims were later identified as Zachary Allen Moore of Prague, Oklahoma and Joshua Trae Foster of Muskogee, Oklahoma.
(PHOTO: Zachary Allen Moore and Joshua Trae Foster)
MORE | Bodies found in crashed, burning truck were men from Oklahoma
Investigators learned from sources that Foster had gone to Colorado on at least three other occasions in an attempt to purchase large quantities of marijuana to sell in Oklahoma. Detectives believe the victims were ambushed, robbed and killed.
"They had built a working relationship or a friendship to some degree," said Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams, "All to have it turned around and lose their lives over it."
An arrest affidavit states that Pinney was angry because Foster was trying to use Pinney's "Colorado marijuana connections" without going through him.
The affidavit states that Pinney and others conspired "to assault Foster, take his money and his truck and tell him never return to Colorado."
"We absolutely know that other people are involved," said Reams. "To what degree is what we are trying to determine right now."
The affidavit states that investigators used cell phone location data that placed Simmons' cell phone at the scene of the murder at the approximate time of the murder.
Early Monday morning, the Weld County SWAT Team was deployed to serve a high-risk felony warrant for two suspects in the case.
Samuel Lucas Pinney, 34, and Samantha Lynn Simmons, 27, were arrested at a home in the 1200 block of Moore Drive in Gilcrest.
(PHOTO: Samuel Lucas Pinney and Samantha Lynn Simmons)
Pinney and Simmons face two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree murder after deliberation, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, arson and abuse of a corpse.
They are both being held at the Weld County Jail.
"I honestly don’t think Sam did it, but if he did, the truth will come out," said Brian Cosper, Sr., who owns the house where Pinney and Simmons were staying. "I have known Sam since he was a teenager, and he has basically been homeless or in jail since he was a kid."
Cosper Sr.'s son, Brian Cosper, Jr. was arrested in the SWAT raid for unrelated parole violations.
Cosper, Sr. said he grows marijuana for medicinal purposes in his home, but not nearly enough for what Pinney and Simmons wanted.
"They had come here asking about some pot, but large quantities that I don’t have and I don’t deal with," said Cosper, Sr. "And I think, yeah maybe they were involved in that and maybe they were getting cut out."
"I explained to the Sheriff’s office they would have to go to some cartel or something, or I’d have to make, like, six phone calls to try to get the amounts they wanted," said Cosper, Sr. "I know people who are hurt like I am, and they’re growing. But nobody has that kind of quantities around. You know, you’re talking way more than I want to deal with."
Another man, Nathaniel Lee Youngman, 26, was arrested April 8 and charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. He is also being held at the Weld County Jail.
Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is asked to call the Weld County Sheriff’s Office at 970-356-4015 or Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimeshurt.co
