Grand Junction, CO – A significant development has emerged in the investigation of a 2022 death under the 5th Street Bridge in Grand Junction. Initially believed to be an accidental overdose, the death of 26-year-old Kurt Abney has now been classified as a homicide following a detailed investigation by the Grand Junction Police Department (GJPD).
On February 3, 2022, officers discovered Abney deceased in a sleeping bag during a welfare check, with drug paraphernalia nearby. However, in January 2023, new information suggested foul play. Investigators determined that Abney had been held at gunpoint and forced to ingest a lethal dose of methamphetamine.
After an extensive investigation, detectives identified 27-year-old Joshua Mayfield as the suspect. Mayfield faces charges including manslaughter, second-degree assault, felony menacing, false imprisonment, and distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance. On September 16, 2025, GJPD detectives, in collaboration with the United States Marshal’s Office and the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Mayfield in Cleburne County, Arkansas. Following an interview in Arkansas, Mayfield was formally charged in connection with Abney’s death.
The GJPD is coordinating with the Mesa County District Attorney’s Office and Arkansas law enforcement for Mayfield’s extradition to Mesa County. The department expressed gratitude to the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshal’s Office for their assistance in the arrest.