Doberman breeder found dead, 10 missing puppies thought to have been sold through social media: Sheriff

A homicide investigation has been launched into the death of a Doberman pinscher breeder in Colorado found dead by friends under debris near his home, and the search is on for up to 10 of his missing puppies thought to have been sold through social media, authorities said.

The body of Paul Peavey, 57, was found before noon on Saturday in Idaho Springs, police said in a news release. Idaho Springs is more than 30 miles west of Denver.

Peavey was last heard from on the night of Aug. 19 and was reported missing on Aug. 21. It’s not immediately clear how he died. The coroner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

Bruce Boynton told local NBC affiliate KUSA that he was among a group of friends as part of a search party who found Peavey’s body down an embankment covered with sticks, stones and debris.

“Nothing that anyone wants to see in their life,” Boynton said, the outlet reported.

Boynton told CNN that Peavey’s home and puppy barn were wide open.

“I’m the one that went up to the property and realized things were awry, to the point where the puppies were gone, the house was tossed, anything of value missing,” he told the network.

Authorities said in the news release that many Doberman puppies were missing from his property and they may have been sold through social media sites or other means since Aug. 20. Costs for a Doberman puppy can range from $500 to $3,500, according to Doberman Planet, which shares tips and insights into the dogs.

His dogs are microchipped, and police were asking that anyone who purchased a Doberman puppy in the central Colorado area check the puppy for a microchip and contact the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office at 303-679-2393 or [email protected]. Authorities asked that anyone who purchased a puppy through Peavey’s business, Elite European Dobermans, since June 2024 to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 303-679-2393 or [email protected].

They said locating Peavey’s unaccounted-for puppies may also help solve the homicide.

There were no details on arrests on Thursday. A media representative for the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Law&Crime.

Peavey’s website said he was a lifetime dog lover. He owned dog rescues and was CPR-certified for dogs.

“Committed to training dogs at a young age, Paul has the years of experience needed to breed the best European Dobermans in the state of Colorado,” the site said. “With the love of dogs always on his mind, Paul walks dogs for the local dog rescue & two years prior to COVID-19 visited senior homes and senior rehab centers so that they can enjoy the dogs.”

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