Suspect identified in Doberman breeder’s death in Clear Creek County

DENVER (KDVR) — Investigators have identified the suspect in a Doberman breeder’s homicide out of Clear Creek County.

Paul Peavy, 57, was last heard from on Aug. 19 and was reported missing to authorities on Aug. 21, according to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office. On Saturday, Aug. 24 just before noon, a private search party found him dead in the 1000 block of Two Brothers Road, north of Idaho Springs.

Previous report: Missing Doberman puppies part of homicide investigation in Clear Creek County

By 4 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff’s office, with help from the Georgetown Police Department, said it arrested Sergio Ferrer, 36, on an unrelated warrant out of Nebraska for a failure to appear on a weapons charge. According to a Friday press release from the sheriff’s office, Ferrer was identified as a person of interest in Peavy’s murder at the time of his arrest.

An autopsy completed by the Clear Creek County Coroner’s Office on Thursday determined that the manner of death was a homicide. The time of death was “consistent with the timeframe that Mr. Peavey was last heard from,” and the cause of his death was a gunshot wound.

“Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, along with assistance from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, have since been able to establish enough evidence to support today’s recommended charges related to the homicide investigation,” the sheriff’s office said in a release Friday.

The sheriff’s office recommended first-degree murder, felony murder and aggravated robbery charges for Ferrer, and the District Attorney’s Office will determine final charges.

Peavey bred Doberman pinschers, according to the sheriff’s office, and there were reportedly “many” puppies missing from his property, possibly as many as 10, as of Monday. The puppies’ whereabouts remain part of the ongoing investigation.

Expect extra traffic on these Colorado roads over Labor Day weekend

The sheriff’s office said that it wants to know how many puppies are accounted for. Anyone who bought a Doberman puppy in the Central Colorado area since Aug. 20, or through Peavey’s business Elite European Dobermans since June 2024, was asked to check if they are microchipped and contact the sheriff’s office non-emergency number at 303-679-2393, or email at [email protected] or submit a tip online anonymously.

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