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Vigil Held For Missing Teen Presumed Killed By Ex-Boyfriend

LAFAYETTE, Colo. (CBS4) - The body of a woman found near the truck of an 18-year-old man from Berthoud has yet to be identified.

Tanner George Flores is in jail after deputies made the discovery in a rural area on the Western Slope. The body is believed to be Flores' ex-girlfriend Ashley Doolittle.

In just about two months Doolittle was going to be named Boulder County Rodeo Queen, a position she'd spent the previous year training for. On Friday her friends were left shocked by the news a body was found.

Ashley Doolittle Tanner Flores
Ashley Doolittle and Tanner Flores (credit: CBS)

Mesa County officials were investigating after the truck Flores drives was found near the town of Collbran. A body was found near the truck. He's awaiting charges in the Mesa County Jail.

"It wasn't until this afternoon that I received a phone call from the same committee person who was actually at Ashley's house when Larimer County broke the news to her mother," said Julia Davis, Boulder County Fair President.

Doolittle had just graduated high school and was getting ready for her freshman year at Colorado State University. The couple had just ended their one-year relationship. Her family reported her missing on Thursday.

Ashley Doolittle
Ashley Doolittle (credit: CBS)

"Ashley is one of the sweetest, most outgoing vivacious beautiful girls that you'd ever want to meet," Davis said.

Over the past year Doolittle worked to develop a program for younger girls to be involved in the Royal Court around the rodeo.

"She thought it was unfair that little tiny girls couldn't be a part of the royalty … and wanted to bring more kids along to understand our western way of life and the agricultural way of life and get them involved at an early age," Davis said.

Ashley Doolittle
Ashley Doolittle (credit: CBS)

At dusk on Friday her friends lit candles around Waneka Reservoir -- many asking why the tragedy had to happen at all.

"She was just an all-around great young woman," Davis said. ""It's going to take some time to heal from this."

The Boulder County Fair decided to name the program for young girls the Ashley Doolittle Princess Program so her memory and love for the western lifestyle can go on.

Boulder County Fair Statement

The Boulder County Fair and Rodeo Royalty Committee would like to thank everyone for the support that has been extended by various royalty programs and individuals from across the state. Ashley was a blessing to this program and her legacy as 2017 Boulder County Fair and Rodeo Queen will live on forever. Please continue to pray for her family and encourage everyone to remember her as a great role model and ambassador for the sport we love so much.

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