2 teens killed execution-style over purse, 10 arrested

Sheriffs in El Paso County, Colo. arrested 10 suspects in connection with a brutal slaying. >>See the rest of the suspects arrested in this case. >>See the rest of the suspects arrested in this case. Sheriffs in El Paso County, Colo. arrested 10 suspects in connection with a brutal slaying. Photo: HC Photo: HC Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close 2 teens killed execution-style over purse, 10 arrested 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Two teenagers who were found dead were forced into an "execution position" and shot at close range after a feud over a stolen purse, according to documents released Thursday.

Gustavo Marquez, 19, told investigators that Natalie Cano-Partida, 16, and Derek Greer, 15, were kidnapped on March 11 and shot multiple times by two other men in El Paso County, Colo., according to his arrest affidavit.

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A passing driver spotted the bodies the following day about 20 miles south of Colorado Springs, Colo. in an area dotted with cattle ranches.

Marquez's mugshot shows a tattoo across his face that says "Santa Muerte" — "Holy Death" in Spanish. Santa Muerte is a skeleton folk saint often associated with violence and drug trafficking, but also has a following among a variety of people, including the poor, artists and immigrant small-business owners.

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A total of 10 suspects have been arrested. Marquez and four others have been charged with first-degree murder: Diego Chacon, 19, Joseph Rodriguez, 18, Alexandra Romero, 20, and Marco Garcia-Bravo, 20. They were arrested by El Paso County, Colo. sheriffs in late March.

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According to the affidavit, Marquez said Garcia-Bravo offered the girl a chance to say goodbye to her family through Facebook, but when she did not immediately log into her account, Garcia-Bravo took the phone back and told her she had lost her chance.

Marquez told investigators that a co-defendant, Chacon, killed Cano-Partida and then handed his gun to another co-defendant, Marco Antonio Garcia-Bravo, who killed Greer moments later.

Another witness said one of the suspects told her that he was going to kill one of the teens over a purse that went missing during a party, police said.

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El Paso County investigators have linked five others with the crime. Angelita Prado, 21, and Breeana Dahlberg, 20, were arrested on kidnapping charges. Alander Wilson, 43 and Endo Velarde, 18, are accused of attempting to influence a public official. Carlos Meza, 20, is facing a weapons charge in relation to this case.

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Authorities found Marquez walking on a median and falling into traffic about a week after the slayings, and he told an officer he had information about the teens.

Booking documents do not indicate if Marquez, Garcia-Bravo and Chacon have hired attorneys. A call to the El Paso County courts clerk was not immediately returned Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.