‘It’s still very very painful:’ Second suspect arrested in Cimarron Hills homicide investigation brings some relief for family

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO) has arrested a second person in connection with an alleged homicide in Cimarron Hills in July.

According to EPSO, 19-year-old Simon Botros has been charged with second-degree murder and robbery in connection to the shooting of 39-year-old Michael Fell. EPSO had previously arrested 18-year-old Damonte Linwood in connection to the case.

According to EPSO, Fell was killed after four masked men had broken into a home and stolen things from Fell before fleeing the scene. Officers were called to the scene around 1 a.m. on July 7 and found Fell suffering from a gunshot wound.

Fell was playing poker at a friend's house when he was killed.

KRDO13 spoke with Fell's mother, Kathy Seylaz, after the news of the latest arrest. She says the speed of the investigation is helping alleviate her anxiety.

"They've apprehended the two suspects so quickly that I have all the confidence in the department of apprehending the other two," Seylaz said.

Seylaz says she's still coping with her son's death.

"People ask me how I am, and I said I'm breathing. That's about all I'm doing is breathing. It's still very very painful."

If and when the remaining suspects are found, Fell's family may be able to find a semblance of closure.

"I'm hoping," Seylaz said. "But, in my heart I know that no matter what the outcome of any of this is going to be, Michael's still gonna be gone. So, it's not gonna bring him back, but it'll bring justice for my son."

Both Botros and Linwood were arrested later in August in connection with a string of unrelated robberies involving victims being forced out of their vehicles at gunpoint. The Colorado Springs Police Department also arrested two other people at the time in connection with those robberies.

EPSO says Botros had also been arrested a week after Fell's death in connection with an unrelated robbery case.

Botros is currently being held at the El Paso County Jail on an $800,000 bond, according to EPSO.

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