Investigators with the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department have made an arrest in the 2010 murder of a homeless man.
Arnold Hofeldt, 52, was located Tuesday morning in El Paso County, Colorado. According to investigators, Hofeldt was a person of interest in the murder of Kermit E. Feazelle, whose body was found Nov. 16, 2010, in a desert area east of I-25 near the Doña Ana exit.
Hofeldt voluntarily agreed to speak with investigators regarding Feazelle’s disappearance on Jan. 4, 2011, but failed to show for a polygraph test the following day.
A nationwide search was immediately placed underway for Hofeldt, and on March 4, 2012, an El Paso County sheriff’s deputy in Colorado located Hofeldt during a traffic stop and contacted the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department.
Investigators traveled to Colorado to question Hofeldt, who openly admitted that he was mad at Feazelle because he felt he was shorted some marijuana for which he paid Feazelle $20.
On Nov. 16, 2010, Hofeldt said he got into a verbal argument with the victim, which turned physical. During the fight, Hofeldt said he struck Feazelle several times, including at least once in the throat area.
The University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner listed Feazelle’s cause of death as “bludgeoning” and further stated he had a collapsed trachea.
Hofeldt is awaiting extradition back to Doña Ana County. He is charged with an open count of murder and tampering with evidence.