Miles Bennett
On September 17, 2018, 22-year-old Spanish golfer Celia Barquín Arozamena was stabbed to death while playing golf at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, Iowa. Barquín Arozamena, who was a top amateur golfer and a student at Iowa State University, was found dead in a pond near the ninth hole with multiple stab wounds to her head, neck, and torso. The suspect, 22-year-old Collin Daniel Richards, was charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Richards, who had a long criminal history, was reportedly living in a homeless encampment near the golf course and had expressed an urge to rape and kill a woman before the attack. The tragic and senseless death of Barquín Arozamena shocked the golfing world and led to an outpouring of grief and tributes from friends, family, and the golfing community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Celia Barquín Arozamena |
| Age | 22 |
| Date of Death | 17 September 2018 |
| Cause of Death | Stab wounds to the head, neck, and torso |
| Suspect | Collin Daniel Richards |
| Suspect Age | 22 |
| Suspect Status | Charged with first-degree murder; sentenced to life in prison without parole |
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What You'll Learn
Collin Richards, 22, was charged with first-degree murder
Richards was a 22-year-old homeless man who had been living in an encampment near the Coldwater Golf Links course in Ames, Iowa, where Barquin Arozamena was found dead. He had a history of mental illness and drug addiction, as well as repeated run-ins with the authorities dating back to when he was 10 years old.
On September 17, 2018, Barquin Arozamena, a 22-year-old civil engineering student and accomplished golfer at Iowa State University, was found dead at the golf course. She had been stabbed multiple times in the torso, neck, and head, and her body was dumped in a pond next to the No. 9 tee box.
Richards admitted to targeting Barquin Arozamena at random and stabbing her to death while she was practising alone. An acquaintance said that Richards had told him he had an urge to rape and kill a woman the day before the murder.
Barquin Arozamena was a native of Spain and had been one of the top junior golfers in the country before enrolling at Iowa State University in 2014. She was a member of the university's women's golf team and had won several championships, including the 2018 Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year award, which was renamed in her honour.
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Richards had a criminal history and was homeless
Collin Daniel Richards, the man convicted of the murder of golfer Celia Barquín Arozamena, was homeless at the time of the killing. Richards had been living in a two-tent encampment in the woods near the golf course where Barquín Arozamena was found dead. He had been kicked out of his grandparents' house a year prior and had no known address.
Richards also had a long criminal history. He had previously been imprisoned for drug offences, including meth, and for probation violations. He had been released from prison early, before the end of his two-year sentence.
After the murder, Richards went to an acquaintance's home to shower. The acquaintance described him as "disheveled and covered in blood, sand, and water". Richards had told this acquaintance that he had an urge to rape and kill a woman.
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Richards said he had an urge to rape and kill a woman
On September 17, 2018, 22-year-old Collin Daniel Richards stabbed to death 22-year-old golfer Celia Barquín Arozamena at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, Iowa. Richards, who had a long criminal history, was homeless and living in a two-tent encampment across from the golf course.
Days before the murder, Richards told an acquaintance that he had "an urge to rape and kill a woman." According to a criminal complaint, Richards had several fresh scratches on his face consistent with fighting, and also noted [he] attempted to conceal a deep laceration to his left hand, which he attempted to bury in the ground."
Richards was charged with first-degree murder and, in August 2019, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In a letter to the court, Richards expressed remorse for his actions, writing, "I want you to know how sincere I am I want to show remorse for stripping a life from society worse from a loving family."
The murder of Barquín Arozamena, a Spanish golfer and Iowa State University student, shocked the quiet college town of Ames and led her hometown in Spain to declare three days of mourning. Barquín Arozamena was a top amateur golfer who had won several championships, including the 2018 European Ladies Amateur Championship. She was honored by the university at a football game, where fans wore her favorite color, yellow, and proceeds from the sale of yellow t-shirts with her initials went to the "Remembering Celia Memorial Fund."
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Barquín Arozamena was stabbed in the torso, head and neck
On 17 September 2018, the body of 22-year-old golfer Celia Barquín Arozamena was found at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, Iowa. Barquín Arozamena had been stabbed in the torso, head, and neck. She was found in a pond near the ninth hole, where her body had been dumped.
Barquín Arozamena was a Spanish golfer and a student at Iowa State University, where she was a member of the women's golf team. She had won several accolades, including the 2018 European Ladies Amateur Championship and the Big 12 Championship. She was also the Iowa State University Female Athlete of the Year for 2018.
The suspect in her killing, Collin Daniel Richards, was charged with murder. Richards, who was 22 at the time, was a homeless man with a criminal background. He had previously expressed an urge to rape and kill a woman to an acquaintance. Richards pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The death of Barquín Arozamena shocked the golfing world and her native Spain. She was remembered by her teammates, coaches, and friends as a talented athlete and a beloved member of the Iowa State community. Her parents asked that people remember their daughter for her "effort and constancy in her goals, friendship and love for those around her, and a positive attitude when facing daily problems."
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Barquín Arozamena was a Spanish golfer and Iowa State University student
Celia Barquín Arozamena was a Spanish golfer and Iowa State University student. She was born in Puente San Miguel, Spain, and grew up in Reocín, a town of 3,000 people near Spain's northern coast. As a young girl, she idolized Spanish golfers Seve Ballesteros and Sergio García, and she dreamed of competing with the world's best golfers.
Barquín Arozamena moved to the United States to enrol at Iowa State University in 2014, where she majored in civil engineering. She was a member of the Iowa State Cyclones women's golf team and was named the Iowa State University Female Athlete of the Year in 2018. She dominated on the golf course, earning three top-10 finishes in tournaments and being selected for the all-Big 12 first team. She won the Big 12 Championship and qualified to play in the 2018 United States Women's Open on the LPGA Tour.
On September 17, 2018, Barquín Arozamena was found dead at the Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, Iowa, near the Iowa State campus. She had been stabbed multiple times in the torso, head, and neck and her body was dumped in a pond near the ninth hole. Collin Richards, a 22-year-old homeless man with a criminal history, was charged with her murder. Richards had been living in a camp near the golf course and was found with scratches and a deep laceration on his hand. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Barquín Arozamena's death shocked the quiet college town of Ames and led her hometown in Spain to declare three days of mourning. She was remembered by her teammates, coaches, and friends as a talented golfer, a dedicated student, and a beloved friend with a great sense of humour. She was honoured by the university at a football game, and the "Remembering Celia Memorial Fund" was established to direct all proceeds to her family.
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Frequently asked questions
Celia Barquín Arozamena was a 22-year-old Spanish golfer who played collegiate golf at Iowa State University. She was born in Spain and grew up idolizing Spanish golfers Seve Ballesteros and Sergio García.
Celia Barquín Arozamena was stabbed to death by Collin Daniel Richards, a 22-year-old homeless man with a criminal background. She suffered multiple stab wounds to her upper torso, head, and neck.
Collin Daniel Richards was charged with first-degree murder and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
