Craig police have arrested a 70-year-old miner whose wife's body was found by investigators Saturday, buried on Bureau of Land Management property in Moffat County.

Terry Joe Hankins is being held in the Moffat County Jail on investigation of first-degree murder, abusing a corpse, tampering with evidence, forgery, theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Police arrested Hankins on Friday in connection with the death of Cynthia Denise Hank-ins-Runnels, 36. He was arrested at 63547 North Colorado 13, at a gold-mining claim where he had been living and working.

Saturday, a task force made up of Craig police, the Moffat County Sheriff's Office, the district attorney's office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the BLM found her body while executing a search warrant about 33 miles north of Craig.

They found the body next to another mining claim held by Hankins. She had been buried about 5 feet deep, but the spot was covered with a pile of dirt 6 feet deep, police said.

Hankins-Runnels' death came to light June 3 as a missing-person case, Craig police Chief Walter K. Vanatta said.

"A family member reported her missing, and we've been working it ever since," Vanatta said Sunday.

Police believe the slaying occurred in Craig. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week. Vanatta said investigators executed five search warrants in the case.

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