(December 31) The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit is investigating after a woman, who had been kidnapped in Aurora, was found dead in Douglas County today.
On December 16, 2021, the Aurora Police Major Crimes Unit was notified by the Fort Collins Police Department regarding a missing person that they had been investigating. Information obtained through their investigation led detectives to believe that the missing person, a 29-year-old woman, was last seen in Aurora.
Aurora Police Major Crimes Unit immediately began investigating the case and believed that the woman might have been kidnapped in the area of East Colfax Avenue and North Victor Street on November 6. The suspects, two men and a woman, were last seen driving a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Detectives continually worked this case, following up on leads and gathering evidence, when they discovered that the Malibu was seen in Douglas County, near North State Highway 83 and Russellville Road, on November 7.
The vehicle has since been recovered and the three people believed to be involved are in custody.
The two men and woman involved with the female’s disappearance were arrested by local police in Sheridan Wyoming on December 29 for unrelated charges. Detectives from the Aurora Police Major Crimes Unit drove up to Wyoming that day to question them. The next day, December 30, Aurora Police Detectives secured warrants for their arrest for first degree kidnapping. The three suspects currently remain in custody at the Sheridan County Detention Center.
Today, with the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, investigators responded to that area of Highway 83 and Russellville Road where they located a deceased female, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The identity of this female will be confirmed and released by the Douglas County Coroner’s Office after a positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.
The three suspects, previously charged with First Degree Kidnapping, will most likely be charged with First Degree Murder in the coming days. Included below are their booking photographs, courtesy of the Sheridan (WY) County Detention Center, and their names and ages are:
Shantel Edlund – 43 years old – from Sheridan Wyoming
Casey Childers – 39 years old – from Casper Wyoming
Leo VanBuskirk – 23 years old – from Sheridan Wyoming
We want to thank our partners from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Collins Police Department, Sheridan (WY) Police Department, Sheridan (WY) County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigations for their assistance in this complex investigation.
Anyone who might have information about this case, and has not yet spoke to police, is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. Tipsters can also remain anonymous.
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
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