Hanson-ColburnThe Archuleta County Sheriff's Office announced late morning Monday that Jesse Hanson-Colburn, whom officials had been searching for since Aug. 12, was found deceased Saturday afternoon and an Archuleta County man is now in custody for his suspected involvement.
Kevin Dale Max Maxwell, 57, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and obstruction at about 1 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, said Undersheriff Rich Valdez.
Hanson-Colburn, 34, also of Archuleta County, went missing on Aug. 12 around 7:30 p.m., when he left a friend's house on the lower Blanco River with the intention of taking his canoe down the river to his house off of Trujillo Road, which he shared with his mother, Valdez explained.
A search for Hanson-Colburn commenced after his mom reported that he failed to show up at the house, Valdez reported.
At about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, a third person reported finding a canoe and the body of an adult male partially in and partially out of the river near mile marker 34 on Trujillo Road, Valdez said. That body was identified as belonging to Hanson-Colburn.
After evidence at the scene led investigators to suspect that foul play may have been involved, investigators worked from tips and evidence and made contact with Maxwell, who was arrested Sunday morning, Valdez explained.
Valdez noted that the incident remains under investigation and an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
For more information, see Thursday's issue of The SUN.
