Breckenridge Man Wanted in 2019 Death of Roommate Turns Himself in to U.S. Marshals in Connecticut

Denver, CO – After nearly nine months of being on the run, and nearly three years since the night of November 6, 2019, Miles Fernando Tovar is in custody. 

Tovar, 38, of Breckenridge, is wanted by the Breckenridge Police Department in connection to the 2019 death of his roommate, Brendan Rye. A warrant for his arrest was issued February 3 charging him with manslaughter, first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal trespass, and harassment.

Early Monday evening, Deputy U.S. Marshals in the Bridgeport, Connecticut, office received a call from an unknown male party who told them he was with a man named Miles Tovar. The male party said Tovar told him he was wanted by the U.S. Marshals and wanted to turn himself in. After a short discussion, Deputies arranged to meet the man claiming to be Tovar at the Brien McMahon Federal Building in Bridgeport. Deputies confirmed Tovar’s identity and took him into custody. He was then turned over to the Bridgeport Police Department to await an initial court appearance on the Summit County arrest warrant. 

After the arrest warrant was issued, the Breckenridge Police Department reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service Colorado Violent Offender Task Force for assistance in locating and apprehending Tovar. The COVOTF adopted the case on February 9, 2022, and since then has been aggressively pursuing leads on Tovar’s whereabouts in Colorado, Florida, California, Maine, and New York. Tovar had been making significant efforts to avoid apprehension and conceal his whereabouts to authorities. The U.S. Marshals, with the assistance of detectives from the Breckenridge Police Department, conducted numerous interviews with Tovar’s family members and friends, countless hours of surveillance, as well as other investigative efforts to include issuing a $2,500 reward back in July. These efforts, in conjunction with significant media coverage of the case, turned up the heat on Tovar.

“I’d like to thank the Marshals Service for helping us take this case one step closer to justice for Mr. Rye and his family,” said Breckenridge Police Chief Jim Baird. “The pressure put on by the efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service undoubtedly influenced the suspect’s decision to do the right thing and turn himself in to answer to these charges.  In a small town like Breckenridge, we don’t have resources to conduct a nationwide search for a suspect.  The partnership the Marshals Service maintains with local law enforcement agencies and the dedication they show to their mission is crucial to our success.”

Tovar is currently awaiting extradition back to Colorado on the outstanding warrant. 

The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country. 

Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries. Follow us on Twitter @USMSDenver.