Stephen McNeil Fort Collins, Colorado
Stephen McNeil is identified as the ex-boyfriend of Danielle Hopton, an animal shelter volunteer who was reportedly found beaten to death in a Fort Collins parking lot by McNeil last weekend. Hopton was found unconscious “with life-threatening injuries consistent with an assault” in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Fort Collins on February 6, 2021.
Hopton has been recently identified by the Larimer County Coroner’s Office as an 18-year-old teenager of Fort Collins, who was an animal lover who frequently volunteered at a local animal shelter and worked with her father raising guide dogs for the blind.
Danielle Hopton Obituary
Hopton, who was a Colorado native, liked spending time working at a local animal shelter and helping her father raise guide dog puppies for the blind. On February 6, 2021, the recent high school graduate was allegedly fatally injured by her ex-boyfriend, police said.
Hopton graduated with the class of 2020 with an academic award, according to CBS4.
Stephen McNeil: Danielle Hopton Murder
On February 6, 2021, Fort Collins Police received a 911 call about an unconscious, injured woman in the parking lot of 525 East Drake Road, the department said in a release. When cops arrived, they found Hopton in the parking lot “with life-threatening injuries consistent with an assault”, according to the release.
She was taken to a local hospital where she died of her injuries. Her death was ruled a homicide. Cops didn’t elaborate on what kind of injuries she sustained.
Danielle Hopton Boyfriend, Stephen McNeil
The detectives subsequently identified her 20-year-old ex-boyfriend, Stephen McNeil, as a suspect in her killing, police said in the release.
According to the press release, another ma and the victim knew each other. The two “had previously been in a relationship”. Hopton and McNeil both went to the same school, Fossil Ridge High School, CBS4 reported. Later, another man named Ian Rayas was also arrested.
Stephen McNeil Colorado
According to a report by The Sun, the trio drove to Whispering Pines Apartments with a group of friends before Hopton and McNeil got out of the car to talk. McNeil then allegedly attacked Hopton, leading other people of the group to call the police as McNeil left the scene.
“Several of the people eventually drove to an apartment complex at 525 E. Drake Road and parked to hang out,” police said in a statement.
On February 7, 2021, at noon, hours after Hopton’s death, the police department found McNeil and took him into custody without incident. He was then booked on bail bond conditions. At first, Rayas denied knowing both, but when police questioned him, they found “evidence to the contrary”.
He is facing felony charges of attempt to influence a public servant and accessory to a crime.
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