ARREST IN CASE OF WOMAN FOUND IN LAKE

FORT COLLINS» Police arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of killing a mother whose body was found in a lake at Fort Collins City Park last week.

Police arrested Jeffrey Scott Etheridge, 28, on Wednesday on a charge of first-degree murder for the death of 23-year-old Heather “Helena” Hoffmann. Sexual assault charges are also pending, police said.

Police found Hoffmann’s body in Sheldon Lake on June 21 after someone reported seeing a deceased person in the water at Sheldon Lake.

The Larimer County Coroner found injuries that suggested foul play.

Detectives found evidence linking Etheridge to the crime and arrested him on Wednesday. Hoffman was last seen at 1 a.m. Wednesday leaving work at a McDonald’s about a mile south of the park.

Man found dead in sand dunes had been rescued there in Feb. •

A New York man whose body was found this week in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve after his car was found in a picnic area lot in May, had previously been rescued in February after getting lost during a trip to the park.

Hikers found Bryan Skilinski’s body Monday near Milwaukee Peak. He was last seen May 8 leaving the Sand Pit Picnic Area. A park ranger later discovered his vehicle parked in the lot, and a search was initiated.

In February, Skilinski became disoriented while hiking in snow and was unable to find his way back. He spent five days trying to find his way, while exposed to snowstorms and high winds.

After his vehicle was discovered in a lot, searchers found him about a mile south of the visitor center.

Officers euthanize bear

• STEAMBOAT SPRINGS» Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers Tuesday night trapped and euthanized a bear that had broken into a Steamboat Springs home.

It was the second bear officers have put down this year for being a nuisance and endangering humans.

The first bear wildlife officers put down had on three different occasions broken into a home along Routt County Road 44.