Standout Iowa State golfer murdered in random act of violence

Iowa State University is mourning the loss of 22 year old standout golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena. 

Celia was brutally murdered Monday morning at Coldwater Golf Course in Ames, Iowa; her body found assaulted and stabbed to death in a nearby pond. 

Her killer, 22 year old Collin Daniel Richards, captured just hours later at a homeless encampment in the nearby woods. 

Richards appeared in court on Tuesday, and remains in jail on a $5 million cash-only bond. 

He has an extensive criminal record, including domestic abuse and assault.

An acquaintance of Richards also said he had recently spoke of the “urge to rape and kill a woman.” 

Richards does not appear to have known Celia beforehand.

“We have charged Richards with murder in the first degree, a class A felony,” said Ames Police Commander Geoff Huff in a press conference Tuesday.

Celia was recently named Iowa State’s Female Athlete of the Year.

She also was the 2018 Big XII Tournament Champion. 

Athletic Director Jamie Pollard was overcome with emotion as he addressed the media Tuesday on losing a member of the Cyclone family. 

“Losing one of our student athletes, is like losing a child. I mean I know myself, it hit me about one o’clock last night. You spend all day just trying to figure out, ‘How do I fix it?'”, said Pollard.

The golf course Celia was at was one the Spain native had played at countless times before.

Aside from her impressive athletic accomplishments, Celia was also finishing her degree in Civil Engineering. 

The Iowa State Women’s golf coach spoke with Celia’s mother, who says she stands by her choice to trust Iowa State with her daughter. 

“I guess the thing that meant the most to me, was that she said, ‘Cel was happy everyday that she was there, and even though all this has happened, if we had this to decide all over again, we would still send her to Iowa State'”, said Head Coach Christie Martens.

Celia’s death now leaving the Ames community stunned by this random attack on an innocent woman.  

“I’m glad we live in a community that this is actually something that stops all of us in our tracks. There’s plenty of places, unfortunately, I think in our world that you all wouldn’t even be in here covering it if it had happened…but that doesn’t make it any easier,” said Athletic Director Pollard. 

In heartbreaking irony, Celia was set to be honored as Female Athlete of the Year at Iowa State’s home football game this Saturday. 

The school has decided to go forward with honoring Celia, asking fans to be in their seats by 10:45 a.m. for a video tribute and moment of silence.

Fans have also been asked to wear yellow, Celia’s favorite color.