Still no answers three months after 21-year-old found dead on side of the road in Teller County

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Lolo Castaneda sits on the side of State Highway 67 staring at a makeshift memorial for his son, Eduard “Lalo” Castaneda. His body was found just feet away from where a large black cross now stands, but Lolo still doesn’t know what led to his son’s death.

On Monday, Lolo and about ten other family members went to the Teller County Sheriff’s Office to demand answers. All they were told was that the case remains open amid a suspicious death investigation.

The TCSO declined to provide 13 Investigates with a comment on this case.

Castaneda was last seen the morning of Feb. 27 between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. in Woodland Park. His family said he was coming back to Colorado Springs from Cripple Creek, where he went to the casinos with friends. But he never returned.

His body was found three days later along Highway 67 between Divide and Cripple Creek. According to the Teller County Coroner, Castaneda died from a skull fracture between 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 27 and foul play was not a factor in his death.

Maria Castaneda, Lalo’s sister, said the family remains in the dark about what happened to Lalo. All they know is that he died of a skull fracture. She believes there’s more to the story.

“Somebody did something to him because I can't wrap my head around someone fracturing their own skull and dying instantly,” Maria said.

She said Lalo was with at least three of his friends that night and questioned if they don’t know more than they are letting on. She said even though Lalo died Monday, the people he was with didn’t tell anyone until Wednesday.

“I don't know if they did something to him, but I do believe that something happened that night that they don't want to say anything,” Maria said.

Lalo’s body was found Thursday, three days after the coroner believed he died, yet Maria said she and her family drove up and down Highway 67 dozens of times Wednesday when they found out he was missing. Never once did they see anything suspicious, which is why she suspects his body was moved.

She also told 13 Investigates that his phone and wallet weren’t on his body when it was found. To this day, his belongings remain missing.

“You guys were not there for him the night that he really did need someone,” Maria said about the people that were with Lalo the night he is suspected of dying. “You guys left him alone.”

Even though the Castaneda’s found Lalo’s body, Maria said there has been no closure in the last three months.

“I don't think we're ever going to know what officially happened that night,” she said.

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