Who Is Collin Daniel Richards? ISU Student Celia Arozamena’s Alleged Killer Arrested

Collin Daniel Richards, 22, was arrested and charged with the murder of 22-year-old Iowa State University (ISU) student Celia Barquin Arozamena, whose body was discovered by the police Monday morning at the Coldwater Links golf course.

Richards was arrested late Monday night and was charged with first-degree murder. According to the state law, a conviction would automatically lead to a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. The state does not have the death penalty.

The police did not release many details about Richards, including his present address. However, some local news outlets dug up court records that revealed his criminal history.

In July, Richards was arrested and charged with public intoxication. He was found passed out at a Hy-Vee, from where he was taken to the Ames Police station. After being subjected to a chemical test, Richards’ Blood Alcohol Concentration was found to be at 0.086 percent, which was above the legal limit in Iowa.

Richards was also questioned by the authorities in September 2017, regarding broken windows and doors in his grandparents’ place. He had then admitted to breaking and entering the property to allegedly retrieve some things as his grandparents told him to leave their house a few days before. Arrest warrants were issued for him a month later for trespassing and causing more than $200 worth of damage.

His criminal history went back to 2015, when he was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon in Guthrie County in the state. The incident happened as Richards tried to steal energy drinks at a gas station and was confronted by store clerks, following which he threatened to return and "shoot the place up."

Other than these records, no other information was available on the suspect, including his possible motive for committing the murder or his relation to the victim.

The police believed Arozamena was assaulted before she died.

Law enforcement officers responded to the scene just before 10:30 a.m. local time (11.30 a.m. EDT) after golfers alerted authorities about a suspicious gold bag which was left unattended in the course. On investigation, the victim’s body was found “some distance away.”

Ames Police Cmdr. Geoff Huff stressed on the importance of being “wary” of one’s surroundings in the wake of Arozamena’s death in a press conference at City Hall, prior to Richards’ arrest.

"The public should be very wary right now," Huff told reporters, Des Moines Register reported. "Right now, all leads are important."

Huff’s sentiments were echoed by Michael Newton, the chief of police at Iowa State University, CBS-affiliated KCCI reported. He pointed out “the importance of being vigilant with respect to personal safety. It is critical for everyone to be aware of their surroundings and to take steps to ensure their own safety.”

ISU President Wendy Wintersteen mourned the death of Arozamena in a statement on Twitter.

"We were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Celia Barquin Arozamena...dedicated civil engineering student...talented student-athlete and an acclaimed golfer with a bright future...a terrible, tragic, senseless loss,” she wrote.

Arozamena was 2018 Big 12 champion and Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year. Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said the victim was a native of Puente San Miguel, Spain, and volunteered as an ISU ambassador.