El Paso County detectives arrested 69-year-old Eugene Romero after a missing at-risk adult was located inside his trailer and appeared to show signs of sexual assault, according to investigators. Romero was booked into the El Paso County Jail on May 22 and faces counts of second-degree kidnapping, sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact, false imprisonment, and crimes against at-risk persons. He is being held on a $75,000 bond, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators say the case started on Sept. 24, 2025, when dispatch received a report that an at-risk adult had gone missing and was last seen near their home at about 1:30 p.m. The reporting party used a phone-tracking app, which pointed to a residence in the 2700 block of Robinson Street trailer park in unincorporated El Paso County. That digital breadcrumb trail prompted a neighborhood canvass by Manitou Springs officers and launched a broader investigation by sheriff's detectives, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
How investigators say they found the missing person
Officers knocked on the trailer after a neighbor reported the missing person might be inside. According to the sheriff's office, Romero refused to open the door and instead spoke to deputies through a bedroom window, admitting another person was inside. Deputies say they were able to see and positively identify the missing individual, described as having an intellectual disability, and that the victim showed signs of sexual assault before being taken to a local hospital for treatment.
In the department's statement, Sheriff Joseph Roybal did not mince words about the allegations, saying, "If you bring harm to the innocent and vulnerable, you will lose your freedom in El Paso County," as per the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
Forensic testing and the arrest timeline
Detectives obtained search warrants for Romero's residence and for his body on Sept. 30, 2025, to collect DNA swabs and seize other potential evidence. Those swabs and items were sent to a lab for forensic testing. Investigators say interviews with the victim, combined with DNA results that came back as a match on May 14, led to Romero's arrest at his residence on May 22. He was booked on the listed charges and, according to the sheriff's office, remains held on $75,000 bond.
What happens next in the court system
The case will move through the Fourth Judicial District, which covers El Paso and Teller counties. Prosecutors in the district attorney's office will review the investigative file and decide which charges to file formally. Romero, like any defendant, is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If charges are filed, the DA's office will set an arraignment date and schedule follow-up hearings as the case progresses, according to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney.
Why Colorado's at-risk protections raise the stakes
Colorado law provides enhanced classifications and tougher penalties for crimes committed against at-risk adults and juveniles, which can elevate the seriousness of offenses such as unlawful sexual contact or kidnapping. Those enhanced penalties and guidelines are detailed in C.R.S. 18-6.5-103.
Investigators say they are still following up on leads and are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the El Paso County Sheriff's Office or the Manitou Springs Police Department. The sheriff's news release does not indicate whether authorities are looking at any additional suspects.
