BUST IN GOLFER MURDER
Drifter ‘killed’ Iowa State champion
A top Iowa State University golfer was found dead on a course near campus — murdered by a twisted drifter who had recently professed “an urge to rape and kill a woman,” authorities said Tuesday.
Celia Barquin Arozamena, a Spanish native who once won the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship, was stabbed multiple times and dumped in a pond near the ninth hole of the Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, cops said.
Barquin Arozamena, 22, was a budding golf star with numerous titles under her belt, including 2018 Big 12 champion.
Her alleged killer, Collin Daniel Richards, had been living in a wooded area at a makeshift campsite near the Coldwater course, according to police officials.
He came upon Barquin Arozamena on Monday morning as she was getting a solo round in, cops said.
Golfers discovered the young woman’s bag near the ninth hole and alerted course officials, who notified authorities. A search of the grounds soon turned up Barquin Arozamena’s body, and Richards was found a short time later with fresh scratches on his face and a deep laceration on his left hand.
Police dogs reportedly traced Barquin Arozamena’s scent back to his encampment and came into contact with an acquaintance of his identified only as “D.B.” — who informed them about Richards’ alleged urge to commit rape and murder.
“What did he do to her?” the man asked after being approached by police, according to KCCI.
D.B. told cops he had been staying with Richards, 22, at the campsite.
He recounted walking near the golf course a few days ago, when Richards made the alleged comments about wanting to kill someone, according to court documents.
A search of a tent at the campsite uncovered a knife and a black backpack that contained two pairs of shorts covered in blood, cops said. Barquin Arozamena was found with stab wounds to her upper torso, head and neck.
Another man, whom Richards had stayed with recently — identified only as “C.J.” — told cops he showed up at his home on Monday covered in blood.
Investigators are still looking into how Richards got onto the course and said there was no indication he knew Barquin Arozamena.
“It’s really troubling that something like this would happen in broad daylight,” said Ames Police Cmdr. Geoff Huff. “It’s an awful thing that’s happened.”
Richards, who is charged with first-degree murder, appeared in Story County Courthouse on Tuesday morning. His bond was set at $5 million cash.
Barquin Arozamena, a native of Puente San Miguel, was remembered by her peers as a loving student-athlete with a bright future.
“A terrible, tragic, senseless loss,” said ISU President Wendy Wintersteen.