Naturita man arrested in 1999 murder | Western Colorado

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, initiated a new investigation in September 2023 after previous investigations into the 25-year-old cold case were closed without criminal charges.

Bishop was a long-time acquaintance of Williams.

At the time of his disappearance, Williams owned an auto body shop in Nucla in the west end of Montrose County.

According to a CBI press release, an investigation revealed that Williams and his wife at the time helped the woman who was married to Bishop leave him and move to an undisclosed location in Texas.

Williams was last seen on May 27, 1999, after receiving a call to assist a stranded motorist who was possibly heading to the nearby town of Bedrock.

The truck Williams was driving was found nearly six weeks later, on July 4, 1999, in the water at the confluence of the Dolores and San Miguel rivers. In the back of the truck, investigators found a rifle with a spent cartridge case in the chamber. Gun purchase records show the .22 caliber rifle belonged to Bishop, the release said.

Based on the extensive investigation, the CBI press release said it was believed Bishop and his (now deceased) cousin worked together to murder Williams.

“Countless interviews were conducted and hundreds of hours of investigation were spent in this case. It took a team effort from law enforcement, family members and concerned citizens to get the case to where it is today,” Sheriff Gene Lillard said in a statement thanking the CBI, investigators and deputies.

CBI Agent Brandon Ludwig obtained an arrest warrant Monday, which Montrose County Judge Laura Harvell signed. The arrest warrant was executed Thursday morning with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.

Bishop is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond.