Coroner: City Park killing victim drowned
Update 1/8/18:Fort Collins City Park homicide suspect pleads guilty to murder
The 23-year-old mother found dead in Sheldon Lake in June drowned, the Larimer County Coroner's Office announced Wednesday.
The office previously ruled the death of Heather "Helena" Hoffmann a homicide, but had not provided further details about how she died. Hoffmann also suffered significant blunt force injuries, said Debbie Reisdorff, a spokeswoman for the Larimer County Coroner's Office.
Jeffrey Etheridge, a registered sex offender and self-described transient, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after deliberation in connection with Hoffmann's death. He also faces charges of felony kidnapping, felony sex assault and felony tampering with a deceased human body — as well as two violent sentence enhancers.
The charge of tampering with a deceased human body was the most recent charge added to the case, according to the Larimer County District Attorney's Office. The prosecution filed a motion July 21 to add the count, and Eighth Judicial District Judge Gregory Lammons granted the motion July 25.
According to Colorado statute, a person commits tampering with a deceased human body if — believing that an official proceeding is pending, in progress, or about to be instituted and acting without legal right or authority — the person willfully destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes, or alters a human body, part of a human body, or human remains with intent to impair its appearance or availability in the official proceedings.
Beyond the charges and Etheridge's brief appearances in court, few details have been publicized about the high-profile killing. Arrest documents containing details about Etheridge's alleged involvement been sealed after law enforcement request.
Etheridge reportedly moved to Colorado in March but did not register as a sex offender in the state for more than a month, which is in violation of Colorado's sex offender requirements. When a sex offender moves to Colorado from another state, he or she has five business days to register in Colorado.
MORE:
Suspect in City Park killing had run-ins with police
City Park neighbors raise concerns after killing
Sexual assault charges filed against Fort Collins murder suspect
Murder suspect swam with group hours after Hoffmann's death
Homeless Gear responds to sheriff criticism following transient arrest
He had several brief encounters with Fort Collins Police Services before his June 28 arrest in connection with Hoffmann's death.
Etheridge remains in custody in the Larimer County Jail without bond and is next due in court for a disposition hearing Aug. 14.
Hoffmann had lived in Fort Collins for about five years after moving to Colorado from her home in Sandston, Virginia. Her loved ones remember her as a talented artist who loved to share her creativity with her 4-year-old daughter, Mary.
She was last seen alive leaving her late-night shift at McDonald's on West Elizabeth Street around 1 a.m. June 21. A passerby found her body in City Park, about a 10-minute walk from where she worked, that afternoon
Reporter Cassa Niedringhaus covers breaking news for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter: @CassaMN. Alicia Stice covers transportation and breaking news. Follow her on Twitter: @AliciaStice.