Jacy Marmaduke

jmarmaduke@coloradoan.com

The lifeless body of a young adult female was found Friday when Mesa County law enforcement arrested a Berthoud teen connected to the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.

Tanner George Flores, 18, was arrested in Mesa County in western Colorado, hours after the Larimer County Sheriff's Office sought the public's help in finding 18-year-old Ashley Marie Doolittle of Berthoud, who police say recently ended a one-year relationship with Flores. Investigators said Flores had been missing since Thursday afternoon and might have been armed with a handgun.

The sheriff’s office on Friday would not say whether the body Mesa County deputies found Friday is that of Doolittle. The Mesa County Coroner's Office will release the identity and cause and manner of death of the body found in Flores' truck at a later date, according to a release.

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Doolittle was expected home at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, police say. Her family reported her missing at 7:55 p.m. after searching the local area and discovering her unoccupied car near Lon Hagler Reservoir. Police were told that Flores, missing since 3:30 p.m. Thursday, was upset and distraught over the couple's recent breakup.

After investigating the scene at the reservoir southwest of Loveland, LCSO sought the public's help in locating the couple and Flores' vehicle, a white 1999 Dodge diesel pickup.

A tip received at 8 a.m. Friday prompted a search near the town of Collbran, where Mesa County sheriff's officers arrested Flores. The release did not specify where officers found Flores or the body, which hasn't been identified. LCSO officials declined to provide further information Friday.

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Flores is being held in the Mesa County Jail, pending criminal charges.

Information about where Flores will be tried if he faces criminal charges, or if he will be transferred to the Larimer County Jail, wasn't available Friday. Larimer County Sheriff's office spokesman David Moore told the Coloradoan those decisions will be made as the investigation progresses.

Moore does not expect those details to come before Monday. The Larimer County Sheriff's Office will lead the investigation with help from Mesa County law enforcement.

Investigators ask anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Doolittle to call the Larimer County Sheriff's Office at 970-498-5163.