Woman Found Dead in Garage; Body Hidden in Trash Can

A Welfare Check in Thornton Led to a Body Hidden in a Trash Can.

Joshua Pittman, 35, was arrested and charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse after the body of a 66-year-old Thornton, Colorado, woman was discovered in a trash can in her garage following a welfare check on April 24, 2026, with Pittman turning himself in to Northglenn Police on April 28, according to the Thornton Police Department.

The welfare check was prompted by the woman’s son and her boyfriend, who reported she had not been seen or heard from in several days. When officers arrived at the home and conducted the check, they discovered her body concealed inside a trash can in the attached garage. Investigators determined she likely died between 9 p.m. on April 22 and 10:30 a.m. on April 24.

Who Was the Victim

The victim was a 66-year-old Thornton woman whose name had not been publicly released by police as of available reporting at the time of this publication. The Thornton Police Department has indicated the investigation remains active and has not released details about the manner of death.

Her son and her boyfriend were the ones who noticed her absence and requested the welfare check, according to investigators. Pittman was known to the victim, according to police - the specific nature of their relationship was not described in available reporting.

How Investigators Identified Pittman

After the body was discovered and the investigation was opened, Thornton Police identified Pittman as the suspect. Rather than being taken into custody by officers, Pittman turned himself in to Northglenn Police on the evening of April 28, approximately four days after the body was found.

His surrender came after investigators had publicly identified him as a suspect. The decision to turn himself in, rather than flee or resist, did not appear to reduce the seriousness of the charges filed against him. He was transferred to Thornton Police custody following his surrender.

Charges and Legal Status

Pittman faces three charges: murder, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse. The latter two charges reflect the concealment of the body inside a trash can in the garage - conduct investigators characterize as deliberate interference with the investigation and treatment of human remains.

He was taken into custody and held pending formal court proceedings. He has not been convicted. The Thornton Police Department is the lead investigative agency, and the Adams County District Attorney’s Office has not released a statement on the timeline for prosecution.

A Family Reaches Out and Finds the Worst

The circumstances of the case - family members reaching out after days of silence, officers conducting a welfare check, and finding the body hidden nearby - represent a sequence that investigators describe as common in cases where a perpetrator attempts to conceal a homicide and gain time.

For the victim’s son and boyfriend, who made the welfare check call, the discovery was an experience no one who loves someone anticipates when they reach out to check on them. The Thornton Police Department asked anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact them directly.

Abuse of a Corpse Charge: What It Means

The charge of abuse of a corpse is relatively rare and reflects the specific act of concealing or mistreating human remains in a manner that violates Colorado statute. In this case, the alleged concealment of the victim’s body in a trash can in the garage is the basis for that count.

The charge does not carry the same penalty weight as the murder count but signals to a jury the deliberate nature of what investigators say Pittman did after the killing. The full scope of the evidence gathered at the scene has not been publicly released.

References: Suspect Arrested After 66-Year-Old Woman Found Dead in Thornton Home | Colorado Man Joshua Pittman Arrested, Accused in Death of Woman Inside Thornton Home