A man being sought on suspicion of homicide, had dated the victim for four years and was arrested in March for allegedly harassing her, court records show.
Police confirmed Monday that Christina Cornejo, 39, was found dead inside an apartment on the 1,000 block of Cheyenne Villas Point Friday. Her death was ruled a homicide, the 13th this year in Colorado Springs, compared to 12 at the same point last year.
Police continue to search for Brian Joseph Hedglin, 40, in connection with her death.
According to court records, Hedglin was free on a $10,000 bond from a harassment case at the time of her death. He had been arrested in March when Cornejo told police that he had stormed into her apartment, took some of the belongings he gave her and smashed her computer and printer.
According to court documents, she had been dating him for four years when she told him on March 11 that she wanted a break. She drove home and he soon followed her, letting himself in with his key. He told her that he wanted her to pay him back for money spent on an upcoming planned ski vacation. She said she would pay him the next day. Instead, she said, he opted to take back items he had given her. She again agreed so he would leave, according to court records.
He then decided to take her computer as well. Cornejo told police that he grabbed it and became upset, yanking it from the wall and throwing it on the ground. He did the same to her monitor and also threw her printer at her treadmill, breaking both. She called a friend who called police because he heard screaming in the background. She told police that she felt intimidated by him but that he did not hit or hurt her.
Police arrested Hedglin on suspicion of criminal mischief, theft and harassment. He is scheduled to go on trial in August for the charges.
On Friday, police were called to the apartment on Cheyenne Villas Point at the request of a relative, who feared for her safety. Police found her dead inside. Soon after, police announced they were searching for Hedglin.
On Saturday, a four-hour search was organized by Colorado Springs police, El Paso County sheriff’s deputies and Army police to homes near Fort Carson. Capt. Tony Hoefler , a spokesman for the base, said that Fort Carson police were involved in the search because the death was so close to the base. Hedglin is not a soldier, he said.
Damn, what a story. Sounds like he had a few mental issues that got the best of him. With all these newsfeeds about pilots going off the deep end I can't help but feel disappointed. I wonder though what he would have done with the CRJ, had he taken off? Good thing that no bystanders were hurt.
