A California woman went missing without a trace in 2019 after she relocated to Colorado for a “fresh start.” Now, after six years, the police have revealed a significant development in the case, alleging that she was choked to death in a car and dismembered with an axe. Two suspects are now facing charges in connection with the crime.
Kimberly Bell, aged 51, was last seen alive in July 2019 in the Denver metro area. Her disappearance was reported by her sister one month later to the Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly. Bell had moved from California to Colorado and was residing with her sister in Franktown, as reported by 9News. Her abrupt absence from work raised concerns.
According to the authorities, on July 22, 2019, Bell was driving a rental car with suspects Javier “Alex” Martell, 30, and Jennifer Bremer, 38, as passengers. Allegedly, Martell grew enraged with Bell, pulled her from the driver’s seat into the backseat, and choked her to death while instructing Bremer to drive. They drove around the Denver Metro area with Bell’s body in the car, stopping at a Home Depot where Martell purchased an axe believed to be used in dismembering the victim’s body.
The pair then proceeded to a remote spot near Estes Park where Martell reportedly dismembered Bell’s body. Her body parts were placed in trash bags and discarded in a dumpster at a veterinary clinic. Bell’s remains have not been located to this day.
Weekly credited witness statements and Google location data for leading to the arrest of the two suspects. Martell faces two counts of first-degree murder while Bremer is charged with felony accessory to a crime and identity theft. Martell is in custody with a bail set at $10 million, while Bremer has been released on bond.
The sheriff’s office is urging anyone with relevant information about Bell, Martell, or Bremer to contact the cold case unit. This tragic case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to seek justice and closure for victims of such heinous crimes.