Suspect Arrested in Howard Double Homicide

Eric Michael Escobedo (Image: Freemont County Sheriff's Office)

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday announced the arrest of a man suspected of killing two people back in December. 

In late December, deputies were investigating a structure fire in a neighborhood near Howard. The man who owned the structure that was on fire was 41-year-old Eric Michael Escobedo and was located at the scene of the fire and transported to the hospital for treatment of burns. Deputies said Escobedo was arrested at the time by Salida Police for an assault that had happened earlier at a homeless shelter. 

While investigating the fire and canvassing the neighborhood, deputies found the bodies of 83-year-old Carl Cooper and 75-year-old Susan Cooper in a nearby home. The deaths were ruled homicides. 

Escobedo has been arrested in connection to these deaths. He is facing two counts of first-degree homicide. Officials said Escobedo was identified through DNA analysis.    

Dan R