A man accused of a brutal New Year’s Eve kidnapping and assault in Grand Junction is behind bars in Kansas and is expected to be brought back to Mesa County. Investigators say the woman involved in the Dec. 31, 2025, attack was seriously hurt but managed to escape and get help.
What police say about the scene
According to a press release from the Grand Junction Police Department, officers were sent out around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 to the area of N. 12th Street and Village Center Way after reports of a woman screaming and a man laughing. When they arrived, officers found women’s clothing scattered in the roadway.
Shortly afterward, a woman ran into a business on the 600 block of Horizon Drive and told employees that a man she knew had a gun and was trying to kill her, the release states. Police say she had visible injuries and reported that the man had picked her up, hit her in the face and pointed a gun at her before she got away.
Arrest in Kansas
Investigators identified 35-year-old Bryan Groehler as the suspect. They obtained a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 1. Deputies in Washington County, Kansas, later found him and arrested him on Saturday, according to CBS Colorado. Grand Junction police say Groehler is still being held in Kansas while the Mesa County District Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement partners work out his return to Colorado.
Local reporting describes the arrest as the result of coordination among Grand Junction officers, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Washington County authorities in Kansas.
Charges and investigation
The Grand Junction release lists multiple felony counts against Groehler, including second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, felony menacing, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, prohibited use of a firearm and domestic violence. Police say they believe the attack was an isolated incident and that the investigation is still active.
Authorities publicly thanked the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and other assisting agencies for their help in the case.
What comes next
Extradition paperwork between Kansas and Colorado is in progress, and Mesa County prosecutors will review the case once Groehler is brought back, KKCO reports. His arrest ends a search that spanned nearly two months, beginning with the original New Year’s Eve calls for help. So far, officials have not released any information about a possible motive or the suspect’s background while the investigation continues.
Legal implications
The counts Groehler faces are felony-level offenses under Colorado law, and prosecutors will decide on formal charges and any potential bail terms after he is returned to Mesa County, according to public reports. Because the case remains open, police and prosecutors have held back additional details. Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact Grand Junction authorities.
