DENVER — Denver Police said on Friday they have arrested a suspect on suspicion of second-degree murder after a woman was found dead in an apartment with injuries that pointed to blunt force trauma and strangulation.
Angel Armijo, 31, was arrested Thursday in the death of Natalia Carter, 35. She was found dead about 10:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in an apartment building near West 8th Avenue and Acoma Street.
When officers responded that night to a report of a disturbance and possible drug-related medical emergency, they found Armijo on the floor in the doorway to an apartment, according to the affidavit in the case.
Armijo asked someone to check on his friend inside the apartment, and that was when officers found Carter in the bedroom.
Carter was pronounced deceased on the scene, and Armijo was transported to a hospital.
The apartment showed signs of a physical fight, with broken glass, overturned furniture and items strewn through several rooms. Another resident in the building told investigators they had heard glass breaking and loud banging sounds, according to the affidavit.
The autopsy by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner showed Carter had injuries consistent with blunt force trauma and that the cause of death was from asphyxia due to strangulation, the affidavit says.
When an investigator later interviewed Armijo, he noted that Armijo that redness and swelling on his hands and scratches on his neck, the affidavit says.
Armijo is being held in the Denver jail and had his first court appearance Friday afternoon.
The Denver District Attorney's Office will make the final decision regarding charges in the case.
