NewsLocal News

Actions

Second set of human remains identified in San Luis Valley; man nicknamed 'Psycho' remains in custody but not charged with deaths

Shayla Jenna Hammel and scene.jpg
Human remains found 2_Conejos County Sheriff's Office
Posted at 11:27 AM, Dec 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-30 16:17:47-05

CONEJOS COUNTY, Colo. — A second set of human remains has been identified from a property in the San Luis Valley, about three of weeks after the first set was identified.

On Nov. 10, investigators found human remains as they conducted a search warrant in a rural location in the county near the town of Las Sauces. The remains included at least three people. After the discovery, authorities announced they were searching for a suspect named Adre Jordan Baroz, 26, who was well-known in the area by the nickname "Psycho." He was taken into custody on Nov. 19 in New Mexico.

The first set of remains was identified as Myron Robert Martinez, 37, of Del Norte in early December.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, a forensic odonotologist — a specially trained dentist trained to identity unknown remains — successfully identified a second set of remains as Shayla Jenna Hammel, 34, of Saguache. A family member reported her missing on Nov. 26, 2020 to the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office, and said they hadn't been in contact with Hammel since late October, according to the Southern Colorado Law Enforcement Task Force.

Shayla Jenna Hammel_death in San Luis Valley
Shayla Jenna Hammel

The cause and manner of her death is under investigation, but investigators said they believe foul play was involved, according to the task force.

Investigators are continuing to work to identify a third set of human remains in the county.

"Law enforcement cannot comment on any other specific information or connection to the remains found in Conejos County due the status of the active investigation," the task force said.

Baroz, who is currently being held in the Alamosa County Jail on unrelated charges, has not been charged in connection to the death of Hammel or Martinez.

Anybody with information on this case or the deaths should call the designated tip line at 719-270-0210. More than 60 tips have been reported since November.