Man accused of killing Celia Barquín Arozamena requests trial move out of Story County
A mugshot of Collin Daniel Richards from his Sept. 17 arrest for the murder of ISU student Celia Barquin Arozamena. Richards is being held without bond at the Story County Jail.
April 15, 2019
The man charged with the murder of Celia Barquín Arozamena, Iowa State international student and golfer, has requested his trial be moved out of Story County, according to court documents.
Collin Daniel Richards, 22, was arrested on Sept. 17, 2018, and charged with first-degree murder of Barquín Arozamena, who had been golfing at Ames-based Coldwater Golf Links that morning.
Richards’ lawyer Aaron Siebrecht, has made a motion for change of venue, according to court documents.
If approved, Richards’ trial would not be held in Story County because his lawyer believes the media attention surrounding the case and proximity to Iowa State would make any trial in the county unfair, according to court documents.
The hearing for the motion is scheduled for May 6, and a jury trial is currently scheduled for Sept. 10.
Richards originally pleaded not guilty on Oct. 15, but sent a handwritten, unsigned letter to the court on March 14 requesting to change his plea to guilty.
After reviewing the letter, Judge Bethany Currie issued an order asking Siebrecht and Ted Fisher, Richards’ other attorney, to discuss the letter with Richards and determine if they would like to ask for a hearing.
The court will not change Richards’ plea based on the letter at this time, according to the order.
