WALSENBURG – Details surrounding the murder of 41-year-old Amy Garcia are still painful for this community to re-live because of how tight-knit they are, and just how many folks knew her.
“I’ve known her since we were seven years old, we went to school together, middle school high school,” said Lucas A. Valdez, who says at one point they were even engaged.
Valdez says throughout his life, Amy Garcia was there for him. Just like she was there for everyone – especially her kids.
“[She was] super amazing with all of her kids, every single one of them, she was very supportive,” Valdez added.
So when Valdez found out she had been brutally murdered, allegedly shot and then left to burn inside her car, it was far too painful.
“Really difficult thing… for anybody to have to go through and honestly, I hope he pays for what he does,” he said.
Paperwork from Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office shows 35-year-old Heith Gleason says he didn’t kill her, and a witness said he saw Gleason’s son, whose name is redacted, go outside with a firearm – then heard gunshots.
“It was a bad crime,” said Captain Milan Rapo with Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office. “I don’t think anyone in this community has had to deal with anything like that. In a small community like this, especially with someone like Amy, a lot of people knew who she was.”
And though she’s gone, Valdez says his love for Garcia will always live on.
“I love her and her kids and i always will. I will always be there for them.”
Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office told News 5 they are working on bringing Heith Gleason and his son back from New Mexico within the next two weeks so they can be formally advised of the charges they face, which include first degree murder.
