GUILTY CO - Rita Gutierrez-Garcia, 34, found deceased, Longmont, 18 March 2018 *ARREST*

[Niner]

Sounds like they had a tip on where to find her body - according to this article.

Remains of missing Longmont woman recovered; Figueroa set to enter guilty plea

The remains of Rita Gutierrez-Garcia have been recovered east of Longmont, and the man charged in her disappearance and murder is set to enter a guilty plea in connection with her death.

www.dailycamera.com

May 19, 2022
After four years, the search for Rita Gutierrez-Garcia and her killer have come to an end.

The remains of Gutierrez-Garcia have been recovered east of Longmont, and the man charged in her disappearance and murder is set to enter a guilty plea in connection with her death.

The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office in a release today revealed that information provided to investigators led them to search an area in Weld County, where human remains were recovered April 28.

Prosecutors said DNA results came back on the remains today and confirm they belong to Gutierrez-Garcia.

The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office also announced that Juan Jose Figueroa Jr., 32, is set to enter a guilty plea and be sentenced June 3, though no details of the plea and possible sentence were released.

 

[cocomod]

I am super surprised he is pleading guilty, but so happy her body was found

 

[Niner]

Friday, June 3rd:
*Disposition Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) - CO – Rita Gutierrez-Garcia (34) (was last seen at 2:30 a.m. March 18, 2018, in a parking lot in the 300 block of Coffman Str. in Longmont; found April 28, 2022 & ID’d on May 19, 2022) – *Juan Jose Figueroa, Jr. (29 @ time of crime/32 when charged/now 33) arrested (3/27/18), indicted, charged (4/6/21) & arraigned (10/6/21) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree murder felony murder & 2nd degree kidnapping. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial was set to begin on 5/9/22 continued to 8/22/22 (thru 9/12/22).
He is currently serving time at the Buena Vista Correctional Facility for a separate Boulder County sex assault case, in which Boulder County District Judge Judith LaBuda sentenced him in 2019 to 93 years to life in prison.
Investigators found DNA evidence that confirms Gutierrez-Garcia was in Figueroa’s pickup. Cellphone data from early March 18, 2018, also shows that her cellphone traveled the same path as the pickup until it was turned off at 3:10am, just after Longmont Police dispatch received a hang-up 911 call at 3:07am.
Case & Court info from 6/4/21 to 10/6/21 reference post #314 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-longmont-18-march-2018-arrest.369051/page-16
12/30/21 Update: Motion for trial continuance-granted due to COVID. Motions hearing on 2/8/22. New trial will begin on 5/9/22 thru 5/27/22. 2/8/22 Update: Defense motions for trial continuance-granted. Figueroa, who appeared for the hearing virtually from the Colorado Dept. of Corrections, agreed to extend the deadline for his speedy trial rights to accommodate the new trial date. Next pretrial readiness hearing on 7/12/22 & trial to begin on 8/22/22 to 9/12/22.
5/19/22 Update: On April 28, authorities searched an area in Weld County where human remains were discovered. Following an autopsy, DNA samples were collected for analysis & comparison. The results were confirmed Thursday. The remains of Rita Gutierrez-Garcia had been recovered. His next court date is 6/3/22 for a dispositional hearing for a guilty plea & sentencing.

 

[Niner]

Juan Figueroa Jr. Pleads Guilty In The Murder Of Rita Gutierrez-Garcia, 4+ Years After She Disappeared

The family of Rita Gutierrez-Garcia who was last seen more than four years ago, faced her killer in court on Friday afternoon.

denver.cbslocal.com

June 3, 2022
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) – The family of Rita Gutierrez-Garcia who was last seen more than four years ago, faced her killer in court on Friday afternoon.
[.....]
Figueroa pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and kidnapping in court on Friday afternoon. A judge sentenced him to 48 years in prison for murder and 12 years for kidnapping.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

https://assets.bouldercounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Figueroa-press-release-Rita-Guteirrez-Garcia.pdf?ftag=MSF0951a18

 

[imstilla.grandma]