WALSENBURG — Walsenburg homicide suspect Ralph Leroy Candelario, 51, waived extradition back to Colorado at a hearing in Humboldt County California on Friday, October 10th. Walsenburg Police Captain Vince Suarez attended the hearing in California and confirmed this week Candelario will be returned to Colorado to face charges he killed his wife Pamela Candelario, 48, on or about January 16, 2014. Huerfano County Sheriff Bruce Newman told the Huerfano World Journal on Tuesday he did not know when the transportation order would be forthcoming, but said his staff would be going to California to escort Candelario back to Huerfano County. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office told the Huerfano World Journal Tuesday that Candelario has a confirmation of transportation hearing set in their jurisdiction at 2 pm Tuesday, October 21. It is expected the transportation order will be forwarded to Sheriff Bruce Newman soon thereafter. Candelario was picked up on an arrest warrant in Humboldt County by the California Highway Patrol on Tuesday, October 7. The warrant charges the 51-year old Walsenburg antique store owner with first degree homicide and tampering with evidence. The Walsenburg Police Department and Colorado Bureau of Investigation have worked
together on the case for over nine months before the arrest warrant was signed on October 7. CBI agents and Walsenburg Police Chief Tommie McLallen, Captain Suarez and Sgt. John Salazar went to Candelario’s 7th Street antique store on October 7 to execute the warrant but were told by employees that Candelario was on vacation in California. Investigators obtained the make and model of the vehicle he was driving and the vehicle registration and notified northern California authorities. Candelario was stopped by the CHP at 6:55 pm that day and was taken into custody on the Colorado warrant.
