‘No tip is too small.’ The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado seeks leads into the shooting of a locally beloved mountain biker found dead on the trail.
Some photos from the family of Timothy Watkins. pic.twitter.com/8oWZiledPT
— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) September 18, 2017
Residents in Monument, Colo., north of Colorado Springs, are on high alert following the discovery of a mountain biker shot dead and partially buried along a local mixed-use trail.
A hiker discovered the body of Tim Watkins, 61, of Monument, Colo., on Sept. 17 after Watkins was reported missing three days prior.
“We ask the community to be vigilant during this time,” said sheriff’s office spokesperson Jacqueline Kirby. “If they see anything out of the ordinary please give the sheriff’s office a call. No tip is too small.”
Shot Multiple Times: Biker, Community Member Murdered
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has released few details. But it did confirm Watkins was shot and that it was investigating the death as a homicide. Sources close to the investigation told KKTV 11 News Watkins was “shot multiple times.”
Singletracks editor Jeff Fisch, who lives in the area, reported that a hiker, unconnected with the search, found Watkins’s body “hidden, under a pile of leaves and twigs.”
At this point, the sheriff’s office has no suspects or motive. Police have not closed the trail near Mount Herman Road and Palmer Lake where they recovered Watkins’s body.
Fisch wrote that Watkins death is an “inestimable” loss to the community. And numerous outlets reported Watkins was a “sweet person,” “always happy,” and a “legend in the mountain bike community.”
Watkins left his home around 10:00 a.m. on Sept. 14 on a “daily trail ride,” according to reports. His wife, Ginger, reported him missing that night.
Singletracks reported that before investigators recovered Watkins’s body, a mountain bike shoe and a bike were found along the first leg of the Limbaugh Canyon route.
The town of Palmer Lake held a candlelight vigil in Watkins’s memory Sunday night. Watkins friend, Jeff Tessier, built his bike and attested to Watkins’s impact on the community.
“He was a great guy that just seemed like nothing ever got him down, always a smile on his face,” Tessier told 11 News. “Always happy, always happy to help you, and even if you were lost on a trail he would go all out to help you find your way back.”
Anyone with information should contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s office dispatch center (719-390-5555) or tip line (719-520-6666) immediately.
