Colorado man accused of robbing and killing his roommate, then telling people he died of pneumonia

PUEBLO, Colo. (TCN) — Authorities recently arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of killing his roommate in 2022 and telling people he died of pneumonia.

According to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 25, 2022, detectives responded to a field after a property owner discovered human remains in a shallow grave. An autopsy determined the victim suffered blunt and sharp force trauma, and his death was ruled a homicide.

The victim was later identified as 39-year-old Steven Robinson. He was originally from South Carolina but moved to Pueblo in 2017.

According to the sheriff’s office, Robinson had been living with Leon Pantoya when he died. Allegedly, Pantoya told the victim’s friends and landlord that Robinson died from pneumonia in January 2022. Investigators allege Robinson’s remains were buried on a property owned by one of Pantoya’s family members.

Pantoya is accused of withdrawing more than $75,000 from Robinson’s bank account, and authorities said the victim’s “military disability payments continued to be deposited for more than a year after his death.”

On Sept. 26, the sheriff’s office announced that Pantoya was arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder and identity theft. He was booked into the Pueblo County Jail.

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