By Surveyor Staff

Ashley Doolittle

Tanner Flores

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Sunday, June 12, identifying the deceased female found in Mesa County as 18-year-old Ashley Marie Doolittle of Berthoud. The Larimer County Coroner’s Office determined that Doolittle had been shot in the head.

Tanner George Flores, 18, also of Berthoud, was arrested by Mesa County Deputies on Friday and remains in custody awaiting charges, according to a press release from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. Flores is scheduled for an advisement hearing on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Mesa County Justice Center in Grand Junction.

Both the Larimer County  Sheriff and Mesa County Sheriff’s Offices continue to investigate this case. According to the statement from the LCSO on Sunday, the sheriff’s office and the Larimer County District Attorney are working together to determine appropriate charges against Flores. Flores is expected to be transferred to Larimer County Jail in the near future.

At approximately 8 a.m. Friday, investigators received information regarding a sighting of Flores’ 1999 Dodge truck near the town of Collbran in unincorporated Mesa County. Mesa County deputies and other local authorities responded and located Flores’ truck. They also recovered Doolittle’s body.

The Larimer County Coroner’s Office released the identity, cause, and manner of death Sunday.

Larimer County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement Friday morning seeking the public’s assistance locating Doolittle, who was reported overdue after not returning home by 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Family members searched the local area and discovered Doolittle’s vehicle unoccupied at Lon Hagler Reservoir, northwest of Berthoud.

Through interviews with family members, sheriff’s office investigators learned that Doolittle had recently ended a one-year relationship with Flores. Investigators determined that Flores has also been missing since about 3:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Investigators reported at the time that they believed Flores may have been distraught over the recent breakup.

Investigators are thankful for tips that were provided during the investigation and encourage community members or anyone with information pertaining to this case to call the tip line at 970-498-5163.