Further details emerged following an AP News report on the horrific on-course murder of standout Iowa State golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena.
Following the Monday morning discovery of her body, officers used a police dog to track Barquin’s scent to an encampment along a creek adjacent the course. That was the temporary home to Collin Daniel Richards, a 22-year-old homeless man who was charged with first-degree murder. Acquaintances of Richards provided information that led to his arrest. One relayed a quote from recent days that Richards had expressed “an urge to rape and kill a woman.” Another reported that Richards had arrived at his home Monday disheveled and covered in blood, sand and water.
Two other acquaintances had blood-stained shorts and a knife that Richards gave them. According to the AP, those two individuals were driving Richards out of town after the slaying but stopped at his tent, where officers arrested him. They reported fresh scratches on his face and a deep cut on his left hand.
The criminal complaint filed Tuesday clarified that Barquin died from a series of stab wounds to her upper torso, head and neck.
Richards is in jail with a bond set $5 million, cash-only. He appeared in court briefly from the Story County jail in Nevada, Iowa.
The original story is below.
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On Monday evening, the Iowa State community mourned the shocking loss of Celia Barquin Arozamena, a standout student-athlete whose body was found earlier that day at a golf course in Ames, Iowa. A man has been charged with her murder. Barquin Arozamena was 22 years old.
Officers initially reported to Coldwater Golf Links at 10:24 a.m. when players found an unattended golf bag. Ames police reported to the scene to investigate a “suspicious circumstance.” Detectives discovered her body “some distance” from the bag, the Ames P.D. said in a statement.
On Monday night, Ames police charged 22-year-old Colin Daniel Richards with her murder. Officers arrested Richards, who has no known address, after a joint investigation between several law enforcement agencies.
As news emerged of Barquin Arozamena’s death, testimony began to pour in as to her impact on campus and as a talented member of the Cyclone golf team. “We are all devastated,” Iowa State women’s golf coach Christie Martens said in a statement. “Celia was a beautiful person who was loved by all her teammates and friends. She loved Iowa State and was an outstanding representative for our school. We will never forget her competitive drive to be the best and her passion for life.”
“This is a tragic and senseless loss of a talented young woman and an acclaimed student athlete,” Iowa State president Dr. Wendy Wintersteen said in a statement.
“Celia had an infectious smile, a bubbly personality and anyone fortunate enough to know her was blessed,” added athletic director Jamie Pollard.
Barquin Arozamena, originally from Puente San Miguel, Spain, had finished her college playing career this past spring but stayed in school to finish her civil engineering degree in the fall semester.
After coming in as one of Spain’s top junior golfers, she excelled throughout her college career. She remains Iowa State’s career leader in stroke average and was All-Big 12 three times during her Cyclone career. She won the Big 12 Championship in April and Iowa State named her the school’s female athlete of the year.
Earlier this year, Barquin Arozamena fired a final-round 66 in her sectional qualifier to earn a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open at Shoal Creek. She also won the European Amateur Championship in July at Slovakia’s Penati Golf Resort. She had also advanced to the second round of the LPGA Tour’s qualifying school.
Iowa State’s athletic department plans to honor her life ahead of the school’s football game on Saturday.
“Celia had an infectious smile, a bubbly personality and anyone fortunate enough to know her was blessed. Our Cyclone family mourns the tragic loss of Celia, a spectacular student-athlete and ISU ambassador.” – ISU Athletics Director Jamie Pollard
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— Iowa State WGolf (@CycloneWGOLF) September 18, 2018
