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Woman's body found inside suitcase in dumpster in Pueblo, police say; suspect arrested

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Posted at 10:47 AM, Oct 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-21 19:08:15-04

PUEBLO, Colo. – A woman's body was found inside of a suitcase in a dumpster in Pueblo on Thursday, and police are working to identify the victim.

Investigators on Thursday evening released surveillance video of a person pulling up to the dumpster at 3906 Ivywood Lane and tossing the suitcase inside of it. Police on Friday told KOAA that Anthony Cuevas, 36, is considered a person of interest.

On Friday evening, Pueblo police said Cuevas was found near a restaurant on the north side of Pueblo and taken into custody along with a second suspect.

Pueblo police said in a news release Friday night that Cuevas and his wife, 36-year-old Melanie Ann Cuevas, were arrested. Anthony Cuevas faces investigation on a first-degree murder charge and a warrant for violating his parole. Melanie Cuevas was arrested on a criminal impersonation warrant, police said.

Police said they received “several calls” tipping them off to Cuevas being the suspect early Friday morning.

The woman was identified Monday by the Pueblo County Coroner's Office as Maria Cuevas-Garcia, 58.

Detectives found the car seen in the video and were searching it for evidence earlier in the day. Police also told KOAA that they were executing a search warrant related to the investigation at a home in the 800 block of Euclid Street in Pueblo.

The victim was wearing an Air Force t-shirt and M&M candy shorts, police said.

She had several tattoos, including a clown on her right thigh. She also had two tattoos of a heart, including one with wings on the heart, according to pictures released by police.

Officers were initially dispatched to the dumpster about 9:20 a.m. Thursday after someone reported a suspicious suitcase. Detectives were called to the scene and the body was found inside the suitcase, police said.

Cuevas was allegedly driving a dark blue, four-door sedan and was in the area of the dumpster about 6:45 a.m., police said.

Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect is asked to call police Capt. Bravo at 719-320-6049, Sgt. Purvis 719-320-6047, Detective Torres 719-320-6037, or Detective Gravattt 719-320-6022. Anonymous tipsters can call Pueblo Crime Stoppers at 719-542-7867 or go to www.pueblocrimestoppers.com.