Colorado Teen Volunteer Allegedly Beaten To Death By Ex-Boyfriend In A Parking Lot

Two men have been arrested in the death of a young woman in Colorado who was found with fatal injuries in a parking lot over the weekend. Fort Collins police apprehended Stephen McNiel, 20 and Ian Rayas, 20 for their alleged involvement in the murder of 18-year-old Danielle Hopton on Feb. 6, Saturday.

Fort Collins Police responded to a 911 call about an injured and unconscious woman in the parking lot of 525 East Drake Road. Officers arrived at the scene and found the woman with “life-threatening injuries consistent with an assault”.

She was immediately rushed to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries.

According to a press release from Fort Collins Police Services, Hopton, McNiel and Rayas were part of a group of friends who drove to the Whispering Pines Apartments on East Drake Road late Saturday night to hang out. Investigators learned that Hopton and McNiel, who were in a relationship, stepped out of the car to talk after which McNiel allegedly assaulted Hopton and fled the scene. Their other friends called 911 to report the incident.

Police were able to find McNiel hours after the report came in and took him into custody. Rayas was questioned by investigators where he denied knowing either McNeil or Hopton or any of the events that happened between them that night, People.com wrote. Detectives, however, found contradicting evidence and arrested him.

CBS 4 reports said McNeil is being held for investigation of 1st Degree Murder, Domestic Violence, Violation of a Protection Order, and Violation of Bail Bond Conditions. Rayas is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on two felonies, including an accessory to crime charge.

Online criminal records reveal that McNeil was arrested in mid-December for a felony assault in an incident involving strangulation. He was also arrested in January for misdemeanor criminal mischief and bonded out of jail on Jan. 22 with cash bonds totaling $2,650.

Hopton and McNeil both went to Fossil Ridge High School where Hopton graduated with the Class of 2020 with an academic award while McNeil was part of the track and football teams.

Hopton spent her free time at a local animal shelter helping her father raise guide dog pups for the blind.