Colorado dog breeder found dead, up to nine Doberman puppies missing

CNN
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Colorado authorities are conducting a homicide investigation after a dog breeder was found dead Saturday with at least 10 puppies missing from his property in Clear Creek County, according to the sheriff's office.

Paul Peavey, 57, was last heard from on the night of Aug. 19, and his body was discovered by a search party of community volunteers around noon Saturday, according to Bruce Boynton, a friend of Peavey's.

Boynton said Peavey would come to his restaurant twice a day. He told CNN he went to Peavey's property last Wednesday after another friend said they couldn't reach Peavey.

“I went to his house to check on him and his house was completely open and the puppy pen was completely open and there were no puppies there,” Boynton said. “His house and his house and the whole property was trashed and everything of value was gone.”

Peavey bred European Doberman pinschers. Four adult dogs were temporarily gone but returned to the house, Boynton said.

The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office said a missing person report was filed last Wednesday evening.

“If the situation and the information we received indicated that a person was in danger, we would certainly have a larger team here, but that was not the information we received,” Sheriff Matthew Harris told CNN affiliate KMGH. Investigators went to Peavey's property on Thursday and found nothing.

“It has been reported that many Doberman puppies were missing from Mr. Peavey's property. The whereabouts of the puppies are part of the ongoing investigation,” sheriff's office officials said. In a subsequent post, the agency said up to 10 puppies were missing; Boynton told CNN he believes 13 are missing.

The sheriff's office said Monday that some of the microchipped puppies may have been sold since last Tuesday.

“Locate Mr. Peavey's missing puppy could also help solve his murder,” the office said. “Anyone with information is asked to call 303-679-2393, email [email protected] or submit a tip anonymously through our website at.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the 5th Judicial District Attorney's Office are also involved in the investigation.

According to police, Peavey operated a business called Elite European Dobermans. An announcement about a litter of puppies was posted on the company's website.

“Paul Peavey has been a dog lover since the age of ten and has owned a variety of dogs since then. Paul has been dedicated to dog training since a young age and has the experience needed to breed the finest European Dobermans in the state of Colorado,” the website states.

Boynton told KMGH that Peavey's dogs are his life.

“He had been through a lot in his life and the dogs were his therapy,” Boynton told the Denver-based broadcaster.