Arrest made in 2010 slaying of teacher

Editor's note: Prosecutors dropped the murder charges against Daniel Pesch on Dec. 3, 2018. 

The Elbert County Sheriff's Office announced it has arrested Dan Pesch, 34, in connection with the 2010 death of Kiowa High School teacher Randy Wilson.

Pesch was arrested on Dec. 19 in Littleton by Elbert County investigators, according to a sheriff's office news release. Pesch was charged with first-degree murder, resisting arrest, obstructing an officer, and attempt to escape. Further details were withheld per a court order.

Wilson's body was found with his hands tied behind his back, a belt around his neck and a bag over his head in a field in northern Elbert County on June 14, 2010, according to a Denver Post article from the time. Wilson taught physics and calculus at Kiowa High School for a decade.

Wilson, who was originally from Montana, was 52 when he was killed, according to an obituary. He was the father of five sons, and had taught in schools around the country and as far away as the South Pacific.

Wilson was last seen at a gas station in Bennett, heading back to Kiowa from visiting family in Montana, on the night before his body was found, according to a Colorado Community Media story from the time. His car was found abandoned near his body in the field, near the intersection of county roads 194 and 53, a remote area about halfway between Bennett and Kiowa.

Investigators in 2011 interviewed two people who may have spoken to Wilson at the gas station, but no arrests were made at the time.

Pesch appears to have moved to the south metro area in recent months from Summit County, according to social media posts. A LinkedIn profile appearing to belong to Pesch shows he worked as a chef, lived in Summit County until earlier this year, and held a degree from the University of Central Florida. Pesch's Facebook features pictures of his young daughters, as well as a variety of furniture and children's toys posted to a local yard sale page in early December.

Court records show that eviction proceedings were filed against Pesch and his partner in September 2017. Pesch was charged with several crimes in Breckenridge in November 2016, including criminal possession of ID documents from multiple victims and illegal possession of a weapon, though the charges were dismissed.

It is unclear if Pesch knew Wilson.