Denver7 Investigates uncovers suspect in 2023 Yuma homicide has violent previous

YUMA, Colo. — In a metropolis with a inhabitants of about 3,500, there’s nearly all the time a way of security.

However in October 2023, the neighborhood in Yuma, Colorado, had its sense of security rattled after a younger lady seemingly vanished.

“Everyone was fairly upset and scared as a result of I believe … there was a number of totally different speculations as to what occurred,” mentioned Jacqie Monk, who was born and raised in Yuma.

Britani Meek, 25 years outdated on the time, was the girl reported lacking in October 2023.

“I cried every single day, on a regular basis, continually,” mentioned Mary Partch, the fiancée to Meek’s cousin, reflecting on the times after her disappearance.

Practically one month after she disappeared, regulation enforcement discovered Meek’s physique however didn’t instantly reveal the place or how.

“It was type of laborious to enter Yuma since you hear all these rumors,” mentioned Brent White, Meek’s cousin.

Except for these rumors swirling on the town, little details about what occurred to Meek was revealed.

Nevertheless, calls continued coming into Denver7 Investigates from sources in Yuma, relaying allegations about who neighbors have been speculating may need been behind her loss of life.

Eight months after Meek’s physique was discovered, regulation enforcement made the stunning announcement of an arrest.

Clifton Clayton Boggess, 62, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Lake Placid, Florida, on July 29, 2024.

He’s dealing with a number of expenses, together with first-degree homicide.

The arrest report reveals Meek’s physique was discovered on a personal property the place investigators imagine Boggess labored.

In line with the doc, a number of individuals who knew Meek repeatedly talked about Boggess’s title to investigators.

The report additionally particulars surveillance video investigators obtained from the final night time Meek was seen alive. The footage reportedly reveals the surface of a loft, the place she regularly stayed, claiming it was the final place Meek’s automobile was seen, or detectives imagine her cellphone pinged.

The arrest report describes a number of hours of footage throughout which three individuals enter the loft, however solely two come out.

The report additionally claims the video reveals what “seems to be a physique” thrown over a ledge.

Meek’s automobile was ultimately discovered on the identical property as her physique.

The paperwork reveal Meek’s household advised investigators she was “in all probability” utilizing medication and doubtlessly buying and selling medication for intercourse.

“I knew that she needed to have gotten combined up a way with the incorrect individual,” mentioned Joshua Thinnes, Meek’s boyfriend of a number of years.

Boggess’s preliminary listening to is being rescheduled after his public defender requested a continuance.

Who’s Clifton Clayton Boggess?

This isn’t the primary time Boggess has been behind bars.

Denver7 Investigates obtained court docket paperwork revealing Boggess has a violent previous.

He was convicted of a number of felonies in Florida after he was accused of sexually assaulting a girl in a automobile and capturing her within the head twice when she tried working from him in 1997. The lady survived.

Data present Boggess served simply over one yr within the Florida Division of Corrections.

About six years after his launch, one other lady would vanish.

What occurred to Heather Riggio?

It was 2007 in North Miami Seaside, Florida, when anybody final noticed Heather Riggio. She was 20 years outdated on the time.

Her cousin mentioned Riggio was “all the time the lifetime of the get together.”

“You wished to be round her. She was very energetic, you already know. She was lovely — blonde hair, blue eyes,” remembers Kurtis Michael.

Michael defined that Riggio was raised by her mom, and her father was not within the image.

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After Riggio’s mom died unexpectedly, Michael says his cousin turned to medication.

“I believe with most children, once they lose a parental determine at that age, particularly the only parental determine, it type of leaves a void. And so they search around to fill that void,” mentioned Michael.

Riggio’s physique has by no means been discovered, however regulation enforcement and her household imagine she is not alive.

“Inside a few years, we began to understand that it in all probability wasn’t going to have a cheerful ending,” mentioned Michael.

A chilly case detective confirmed to Denver7 Investigates that Boggess is an individual of curiosity in Riggio’s disappearance.

“I simply want that there was extra of an effort put into the case. On the time, I do not assume anyone realized the gravity or simply how huge and widespread this was,” mentioned Michael.

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Now, a bench sits in a park within the coronary heart of Yuma with Meek’s title, birthday, photo-etched in stone, and an image of a guitar.

“Within the deepest, darkest cave, she was a solar lily that was shining so vivid. I do not see how anyone might have stepped on her,” mentioned Thinnes.

• Denver7 Investigates will observe every step of the case. You possibly can watch Natalie Chuck’s in-depth piece within the video participant beneath.

Denver7 Investigates uncovers suspect in 2023 Yuma homicide has violent previous

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