#Suspect in custody in killing of Colorado dog breeder; puppies remain missing

A man was accused of murder in the killing of a Colorado dog breeder Friday, more than a week after the breeder and as many as 10 of his Doberman puppies disappeared from his property, authorities said.

Sergio Ferrer, 36, faces murder and aggravated robbery charges in the death of Paul Peavey, 57, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Ferrer was initially taken into custody Aug. 24 on an unrelated warrant from Nebraska alleging that he failed to appear for a weapons charge, the sheriff’s office said.

At the time, Ferrer was considered a person of interest in Peavey’s homicide investigation, according to the statement. The sheriff’s office said Peavey appeared to have died from a gunshot wound.

On Friday, the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies recommended that Ferrer be charged in Peavey’s murder, the statement says.

The sheriff’s office did not provide additional details about a possible motive in the killing. It isn’t clear if Ferrer has a lawyer to speak on his behalf.

Peavey, who ran a breeding business specializing in European Dobermans, was last heard from Aug. 19, the sheriff’s office said. A privately organized search party found his body five days later under a pile of sticks and stones.

Earlier this week, the sheriff’s office said that as many as 10 puppies — all of which had been microchipped — may have been sold through social media sites.

The agency said Friday that the dogs remained unaccounted for.