Three people arrested in connection with a shooting death at a mobile home park three miles west of Durango were advised of their rights and possible charges Thursday in La Plata County Combined Courts.
In a procedural hearing that never left script, Kevin Goff, 27, Michael Jones, 19, and Alysse Rios, 19, were informed of the first-degree murder counts, which are punishable by life in prison or the death penalty.
All three suspects wore shackles and jail-issued jumpsuits. None showed obvious signs of emotion; they answered routine questions from La Plata County Judge Martha Minot with a simple, “Yes, ma’am.”
Defense lawyers postponed bail arguments for a later date, meaning the three are being held without bail at the La Plata County Jail.
The trio is suspected of being involved in the death of David Antonio Gaytan, 34, of Durango, who suffered a gunshot wound about 11:35 a.m. Sunday at a friend’s home in the Lightner Creek Mobile Home Park, 907 Lightner Creek Road (County Road 207).
Witnesses reported hearing a possible gunshot and seeing two men and a woman leave the home in a black sedan with Texas license plates, according to the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. Witnesses also provided a partial license plate number, which was broadcast to law enforcement throughout the region.
The Colorado State Patrol identified a vehicle matching the description Sunday night near Salida, about 200 miles northeast of Durango. Troopers arrested all three suspects.
The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed a possible motive for the shooting, and the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office filed arrest affidavits under seal, making them unavailable for public inspection. Arrest affidavits typically include brief narratives that demonstrate “probable cause” for making an arrest.
District Attorney Christian Champagne did not respond to a request for comment Thursday about why the affidavits were filed under seal.
Formal charges are expected to be filed June 9 against Goff and Rios. A bail hearing is expected to be held at the same time.
A bail hearing for Jones has been set for May 26.
shane@durangoherald.com
