THORNTON, Colo. – Police in Wyoming have arrested a Thornton man after he walked into their station and told them he had killed his girlfriend in Colorado and driven her body across state lines to Wyoming.
Thornton police said Jonathan Eugene Akin, 22, was in custody of the Powell (Wyo.) Police Department after being arrested for investigation on a first-degree murder charge on Tuesday. Jail records indicate he also faces a felony charge of mutilation of a dead body.
Thornton police say they were called by Powell police just before noon Tuesday and asked to conduct a welfare check on a woman at an apartment at the Champion’s Park Apartments. Powell police told Thornton police that Akin had come into their department claiming his dead girlfriend was in his vehicle.
While Thornton officers were checking the apartment, Powell police confirmed the woman’s body was found inside Akin’s vehicle. Thornton police confirmed the apartment was a crime scene, Sgt. Ernie Lucero said in a news release.
Katelyn Neuhold, the woman's best friend, identified the victim as 21-year-old Autumn Rivera. Speaking to Denver7, she said Akin and Rivera were fighting after getting kicked out of a club when things spiraled out of control.
"Jonny was cutting fruit when they were fighting. He had a knife," said Neuhold. "Her sister called and said Autumn had been stabbed by Johnny."
Akin's friends then called Katelyn.
"Jonny had texted them saying he had done something and was turning himself in to police. He went up to Wyoming to see his parents before he turned himself in," Neuhold said.
Akin is being held at the Park County (Wyo.) Sheriff’s Office while he awaits a hearing to be extradited back to Colorado to face charges. The woman who was killed has not been identified.
Powell is located in northwest Wyoming approximately 140 miles west of Sheridan.
Lucero said the investigation into the woman’s death was ongoing and asked anyone with information to call 720-977-5069.
Denver7 reporter Tom Mustin contributed to this report.