Woman dragged to death near Denver ID’d

updated 9:59 p.m. ET Sept. 21, 2006

DENVER - A woman dragged to her death behind a vehicle was identified Thursday as a mother of three from the Mexican state of Guerrero, the Mexican consul general said.

Luz Maria Franco-Fierros, 49, was identified through fingerprints, Consul General Juan Marcos Gutierrez Gonzalez said. Franco-Fierros was from the city of Chilpancingo, the capitol of Guerrero.

Her battered, disfigured body was discovered early Monday along a subdivision road north of Castle Rock, about 20 miles south of Denver. Investigators say Franco-Fierros had been dragged behind a vehicle for more than a mile, leaving a bloody trail. Preliminary autopsy results said she suffered fatal head injuries and strangled as she was dragged.

Jose Luis Rubi-Nava, 36, was being held without bail on a charge of first-degree murder.

Spokeswomen for the district attorney, the Douglas County sheriff and the coroner declined to comment Thursday. Rubi-Nava's public defender, Kathleen McGuire, did not immediately return a call.

A judge sealed court documents and said he would consider McGuire's request for a gag order.

In his only public statement since the arrest, Sheriff Dave Weaver did not say how the arrest was made or how the few known clues fit into the case.

Among those clues is a widely circulated photograph found somewhere near the crime scene showing Rubi-Nava standing beside an unidentified woman, his right arm resting on her shoulder. Weaver said Wednesday he did not know if the woman in the photo is the victim.

Cesar Gustavo Garcia Flores, 20, a roommate of Franco-Fierros and Rubi-Nava, told the Rocky Mountain News that the woman in the photograph was Rubi-Nava's wife in Mexico.

Flores told the paper that the couple argued at times and there were instances of domestic violence, with Franco-Fierros at one point telling Rubi-Nava: "Get out of here. Either you're going to kill me or I'm going to kill you."

A close friend of Franco-Fierros who lives in the same apartment complex, Zulma Pulgarin, 31, told the paper Franco-Fierros was happy with Rubi-Nava despite her knowledge that he had a wife and children in Mexico.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said they believe Rubi-Nava is an illegal immigrant from Mexico.

Denver police confirmed Thursday they arrested Rubi-Nava on a traffic charge in April but released him.

Police spokeswoman Virginia Quinones said the arresting officer suspected Rubi-Nava's identification may have been forged, but she said the department was not responsible for verifying a suspect's immigration status, and a new Colorado law directing police to cooperate with federal immigration officers was not yet in force.

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Cops ponder 'gap' in Fla. slayings Jury recommends life in 'Alpha Dog' slaying   Teen convicted of soliciting dad’s killing   Driver shot to death near U.S. Capitol Police: 'Fight Club' inspired Starbucks blast Cemetery owner denies scam involvement Witness: Minister took 8-year-old bride Death of Caylee Anthony still captivates Jackson probe not being treated as homicide Autistic girl arrested; parents sue school Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: