Only On 13: Soldier Speaks About Brother’s Homicide
Izzy Naranjo heard about his brother’s kidnapping on a friend’s Facebook page. From Afghanistan, he posted his brother Jeremy’s picture on the KRDO page, asking people to contact him if they had seen him.
The family had heard about a homicide victim discovered in Colorado Springs late Monday night.
“It was an emotional roller coaster all day long,” said Andrea Naranjo, Izzy’s wife. “Not knowing and praying that it wasn’t him.”
Just before 5 p.m., police confirmed that the body was 21-year-old Jeremy.
“I love him and I miss him,” said Izzy Naranjo by phone from Afghanistan. “I’m going to make sure everything can be done that needs to be done to find out who did this.”
He said he didn’t know of anyone who would want to hurt his brother.
“He meant everything to me,” said Izzy. “He was my whole life.”
Pueblo police said the killing may have been drug or gang related. They said Jeremy was kidnapped from the 2100 block of Hellbeck Drive in Pueblo on Monday and later found on Rim Ridge Court near Academy and Vickers in Colorado Springs. A witness who found the body said Jeremy was shirtless with his hands handcuffed behind his back.
His family said Jeremy was a good kid, and that they never knew him to be involved with gangs or drugs.
“He wouldn’t be allowed to be around my children and my family if he was,” said Andrea. “That’s what type of person my husband is. He wouldn’t allow it.”
The family is hoping for justice.
“We just want those who did this to him to get caught,” said Andrea.
Izzy told KRDO Newschannel 13 that he’s been in touch with his brother’s friends on Facebook, and some of them seem to know a lot about what happened. He said he’s hoping they’ll be able to help police identify who killed Jeremy. He said he’s hoping to be back from Afghanistan this week.
