Body, meth lab found in Monument home

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a dead body and a methamphetamine lab that were found in a home in northwest Monument on Wednesday.

The discovery was made around 11 a.m. by a probation officer serving an arrest warrant on an unidentified man at the home, said Lt. Jeff Kramer of the Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities, assisted by the hazmat unit and bomb squad from Colorado Springs, spent more than 30 hours at the home in the 2800 block of Hunters Glen Road. They sealed off the area and began removing dangerous chemicals from the home. The scene remained active through Thursday evening.

Kramer said the victim’s name won’t be released until his relatives are informed. Kramer wouldn’t say whether the man sought in the warrant is the same man whose body was found, nor would Kramer reveal the offense that led to the warrant.

“There were no obvious signs of foul play and no outward signs of trauma seen during an autopsy,” said Kramer. “We’re awaiting a toxicology report to determine his cause of death.”

Neighbors were surprised that a meth lab could operate around them without them hearing, seeing or smelling anything suspicious.

Lowell Pierce said he believes the body found is that of the man who lived at the home for at least six years.

“We’ve talked to him on occasion, taken over Christmas cookies, etc.,” said Pierce. “(We) have not been in the house, but we’ve known him as a neighbor. He was a very nice individual. He helped us out a couple of times. (We) had no clue as to what was going on or what had happened, until yesterday morning when we came out and the (crime scene) tape was on the property.”

Neighbors said they hope the situation won’t create a bad reputation for them, and that it’s not the start of a trend for the Monument area.