Broomfield Woman Reported Burglary A Week Before Her Murder

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Broomfield are asking for the public's help after the murder of 33-year-old Karolina Amalia Lopez-Leon.

"It's scary," said neighbor Kristal Garcia. "It's sad because she was a good person. I never seen her be violent or anything. It's really sad that she's gone."

Lopez-Leon also went by the name Amalia Lopez De Mansilla.

On Oct. 10, Lopez-Leon reported an attempted burglary inside her Broomfield home at the Front Range Mobile Home Park located at Midway Boulevard near Zuni Street. The thief had tampered with her large gun safe. Eight days later her body was found inside her home. The gun safe and her gold Michael Kors purse containing her personal information were missing.

A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, told CBS4's Tom Mustin she saw a strange man leaving Lopez-Leon's home the day the body was discovered.

"A guy came down the street with a dolly and a big black thing. At first I thought it was a refrigerator. Then I looked again and said, 'It's not a refrigerator. It was the gun safe.' He was tall and thin," she said.

Neighbors say Lopez-Leon had recently separated from her husband. She lived with her two children. Police say she had been seen at the View House in Denver the night before her death. Officers also believe the murder isn't a random act and the killer knew his victim.

"Some acquaintance; it wasn't just totally random," said Joleen Reefe with the Broomfield Police Department.

Police are not saying how Lopez-Leon died. They also say the public is not in any danger. And as their search for clues continues, Garcia says she and her neighbors are praying for justice.

"I hope whoever did this gets what they deserve," she said.

Additional Information From The Broomfield Police Department

If you have any information about this incident or any of these missing items, call the Broomfield Police Crime Tip Line 720.887.5298 or email information to umpolicetipsline@broomfield.org.

Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomCBS4.