Body of missing Colorado woman is found in hidden grave days in remote areas after person of interest in her disappearance was shot dead by police

Cheyenne Goins of Alamosa, 21, had been reported missing since August 12 when her remains was found in a remote area at Colorado State Highways 160 and 150, 225 miles southwest of Denver

The body of a missing Colorado woman was found in a 'clandestine' grave by police last week, several days after a  person of interest in her killing was gunned down in a police standoff.

Cheyenne Goins, of Alamosa, 21, was reported missing August 12. Her remains were found Saturday in a remote area at a highway intersection 225 miles southwest of Denver, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. 

Goins’ remains were located in a clandestine grave in a remote area in Alamosa County at Colorado State Highways 160 and 150 on August 21, 2021,' CBI said in a Facebook post.

CBI Chief of Staff Susan Medina told MailOnline that the grave was 'dug to conceal or go undetected or undiscovered.'  

Authorities did not offer more details about the grave. It was ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Coroner, but the cause was not released because it is 'a key component' of the investigation, CBI said.

Lucas Antonio Salas Jr., 33, was one of 'multiple people' in touch with Goins on the evening she disappeared, KMGH-TV reported. He was considered a person of interest in her disappearance. 

Goins' family told MailOnline that they had 'never heard of' or met Salas before. The nature of the relationship between Goins and Salas is unclear.

There were no formal charges against him when he was shot dead at a golf course in neighboring Thornton. Police said that they used deadly force when he brandished a gun.

Police attempted to approach Salas for questioning regarding Goins' disappearance around 11:30 am August 18 on Malley Drive, according to the Northglenn Police Department. He peeled away in his vehicle, and police chased  him.

Salas drove about three miles to the golf course, police said, parking and getting out of his vehicle at the Thorncreek Golf Course. He continued on foot onto the green. 

‘This one officer was just running… these police officers were just yelling "get out, get out, get out of here,"' witness Kevin Green told KUSA.

There were no formal charges against Lucas Antonio Salas Jr., 33, when he was shot dead at a golf course in neighboring Thornton. He was a person of interest in Goins' disappearance, and police were attempting to question him when he brandished a weapon

Police attempted to approach Salas for questioning regarding Goins' disappearance around 11:30 am August 18 on Malley Drive. He peeled away in his vehicle, and police chased him. Salas drove about three miles to the golf course, police said, parking and getting out of his vehicle at the Thorncreek Golf Course. He continued on foot onto the green.

 When Salas produced a firearm, shots were exchanged, police said. 

‘This guy just turned around and he pointed a gun,' said Green.  'I don’t know who shot, but six or seven shots went off and that guy just went down… they shot until he was no longer a threat.'

None of the responding officers was injured in the altercation.   

'My heart is in pieces,' wrote Goins' sister, Mandy Gonzalez, in a Facebook post August 24.

'I'm in disbelief & devastated. I had such big dreams of us being moms together & swapping story's of our boys growing up. Someone stole that chance away from us. I love you so much Chey. Until we meet again.'

The victim's family reported her missing August 12 when she had not returned home for four days, sister Alanna Goins wrote on Facebook.

'She was so full of life,' said sister Mandy Gonzalez of Goins. 'She had the most beautiful smile and her laugh was contagious. She loved being a momma and loved to sing and dance. She was so goofy and joked around all the time. We miss her already so terribly much.'

'Cheyenne been missing for 5 days now,' she wrote on August 13. 

'If you know where she is at please message me on her account. I'll be active on here for most of today until we can find her. Please pray for her...thank you.'

'We waited to report she was missing... because she would be away from home for periods of time,' Alanna Goins told MailOnline. 

'But what was different this time was she was not active on social media at all. So that’s what really created our anxiety.'

Cheyenne Goins was the mother of a 3-year-old, Gonzalez told MailOnline on August 25.

'Cheyenne was a firecracker since the day she was born - bright red hair and the chubbiest cheeks.' 

'She was so full of life. She had the most beautiful smile and her laugh was contagious. She loved being a momma and loved to sing and dance. She was so goofy and joked around all the time. We miss her already so terribly much.

'I'm in disbelief & devastated,' wrote sister Mandy Gonzalez. 'I had such big dreams of us being moms together & swapping story's of our boys growing up. Someone stole that chance away from us. I love you so much Chey. Until we meet again.'

'My sister was my not only my sister, she was my best friend,' wrote sister Alanna Goins on Facebook. 'I will no longer hear her laugh, sing or see her dance. I will no longer see he draw. I will no longer see her red hair shine in the hot sun. I love you forever and ever.'

'Our hearts will never be the same without her... We want Justice for Chey!' 

A GoFundMe that initially was launched by Goins' family to hire a private investigator has been diverted to help her son. 

'We found Cheyenne but not how we hoped and prayed for,' wrote Alanna Goins on her Facebook page on August 24.

'My beautiful sister is in heaven. I miss her more than words can even describe. I wanted to hold her and tell her I loved her so much, but I was robbed of that from evil disgusting people. 

'My sister was my not only my sister, she was my best friend. I will no longer hear her laugh, sing or see her dance. I will no longer see he draw. I will no longer see her red hair shine in the hot sun. I love you forever and ever.'

Goins told MailOnline that her late sister 'was obsessed with anything that had to do with vampires,' and loved animals, art, singing and dancing. 

'She was an amazing mom and loved her son so much,' Goins said. 

The CBI and the Alamosa County Sheriff's Department could not be reached for comment at press time.