Three individuals from Colorado have been detained following allegations that they fatally assaulted a man with a flashlight before transporting his body to a desert for disposal.

Weston Owen and Sarah Bess, both aged 18, alongside 21-year-old Kellar Weisgerber, are facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder, evidence tampering, corpse abuse, and conspiracy, according to a statement from the Fruita Police Department. Authorities in Fruita, located in western Colorado, initiated an investigation following reports of a suspicious activity in the desert region along 21 Road on Saturday.

As stated in an arrest affidavit obtained by the Grand Junction CBS affiliate KREX, Bess, her fiancé Owen, and the victim, 62-year-old John Krabbe who was Bess’s uncle, were at a local bar on the evening of the alleged incident. Bess was acting as the designated driver when Owen allegedly perceived Krabbe’s touch on Bess’s neck as an inappropriate advance, the affidavit noted.

According to the police, Owen contacted Weisgerber with a request to “teach John a lesson.” The trio reportedly devised a plan to murder Krabbe, waiting until he fell asleep. Owen allegedly struck Krabbe with a flashlight while Weisgerber restrained him, and Bess reportedly heard the sound of his skull cracking. Owen then allegedly strangled Krabbe, and Bess checked for a pulse but found none, as detailed in the affidavit.

Following the alleged murder, Weisgerber reportedly bound the victim’s hands and feet with red rope. Together with Owen, they dragged Krabbe’s body across the house and loaded it into his Jeep, the affidavit stated. They then transported the body to a secluded desert area and left it concealed behind a bush.

The suspects then allegedly collected items with the victim’s blood on them and drove to the area of 21 Road and burned them. As this was happening, Bess reportedly walked away and pretended to take pictures. She allegedly called her mother and told her that Owen held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the murder. Bess allegedly asked her mother to call police, who responded to the area.

According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, a judge set the suspects’ bonds at $2 million each. Their next court date is scheduled for Dec. 5.