The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday announced the arrests of two suspects in connection with the 2019 case of a missing woman.

Friday, deputies arrested Javier Martell, 30, on a first-degree murder charge and Jennifer Bremer, 38, on accessory to a crime charges in the death of Kimberly Bell.

In a news conference Tuesday, Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said the two suspects knew Bell, who was 51-years-old at the time of her death in July 2019.

In August 2019, Bell’s sister reported her missing, sparking a five-year cold case investigation.

The investigation, which Douglas County’s cold case team began in 2021, became what Weekly called “arduous.”

The sheriff said the incident began when Martell was sitting in the back seat of a car with Bremer and Bell, near Park Meadows Drive and Station Way near Lone Tree in unincorporated Douglas County.

Weekly said the investigation revealed Martell had allegedly wrapped his arms around Bell, pulled her back, then strangled her to death in the back seat of the car. During the alleged crime, Weekly said, Bremer drove the vehicle to a remote location in Estes Park, where the two suspects allegedly dismembered Bell’s body, put parts into trash bags, and left them in a dumpster.

“There was evidence that was obtained during the course of the investigation to include Bell’s identification that was found with the two suspects, and then when the vehicle was located, identification with our two suspects was found with that vehicle,” Weekly said on what led deputies to Martell and Bremer.

Before driving to Estes Park, Weekly added the two suspects drove to various locations around the metro Denver area with Bell’s body in the back of the vehicle. One of the locations the sheriff said they stopped at was a Home Depot in Aurora, where Martell allegedly purchased several items including an ax.

Bell’s body has not been found, according to Weekly.

“We’ve never had a case quite like this in Douglas County,” Weekly said. “We have always had, typically, a body that we have had to prosecute any type of murder case.”

Weekly didn’t elaborate on what the two suspects might have said during the investigation.

“We’re glad to get to this point to get some closure for the family,” the sheriff said.

Martell is being held on a $10 million bond, while Bremer posted bond this past weekend, according to the sheriff’s office. A sheriff’s deputy said Martell was arrested at his work in a Parker convenience store, while Bremer earlier turned herself in on Friday.

Michele Kennedy, crime analysis supervisor for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, said she and investigators talked to Bell’s family during the investigation.

“They’re definitely struggling,” Kennedy said. “It’s been over five years since they’ve known what’s happened to their sister and, you know, their family member. So it’s been a struggle.”

Kennedy added: “They’re starting to get some answers. But now they have a whole new set of circumstances to deal with.”

Weekly said the sheriff’s office is still looking for more information on the two suspects. Those with information can contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit at (303) 660-7528.

This story is developing and will be updated.