Suany Lizeth Melgar Almendarez was 41 when she was found dead in an alley near Vallejo Street and Adriatic Place in Englewood, Colorado. Her body was discovered on September 11, 2023; the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office ruled her death a homicide and investigators believe she was shot during the night of September 10 and then moved to the alley.

Family describe Almendarez as a wonderful, happy, hard-working mother of three and a doting grandmother. Her daughter says Almendarez had ended a relationship with ex-boyfriend Jose Bustamante in January 2023. In October detectives tied a 2010 blue Chevrolet Silverado to the case and identified 41-year-old Jose Bustamante as the primary suspect.

Authorities issued a $5 million cash-only arrest warrant charging first-degree murder and tampering with a body; Bustamante is still at large and considered dangerous. Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. If anyone has information about Almendarez or Bustamante, please come forward.