DENVER (KDVR) — An Idaho Springs man who bred Dobermans was reported missing on Wednesday night, and then a friend on Saturday found him dead at his home.

Now Paul Peavey’s friends are calling on the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office to do more in the investigation.

Peavey’s friend Bruce Boynton reported him missing on Wednesday night and said he knew something bad had happened.

“His place was trashed, everything of value missing. I called the sheriff,” Boynton said.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies went to the property on Thursday and did not find Peavey. Frustrated by what he called a lack of action, Boynton helped organize a private search party on Saturday, and the group found Peavey’s body on his property.

“Someone dropped the ball,” Boynton said.

Jenny Fulton with the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office said: “There are some missteps that we took.”

Fulton acknowledges that the sheriff’s office should have put out information on social media about Peavey when he was reported missing and that deputies should have participated in the search on Saturday.

But now investigators need help from the public: Finding the missing Doberman puppies could help homicide investigators. The sheriff’s office said there could be as many as 10 missing puppies.

On Monday, the sheriff’s office asked the public to keep an eye out, and anyone who bought a Doberman puppy in Central Colorado since Aug. 20 was asked to check if the pups were microchipped and contact the sheriff’s office. All of Peavey’s puppies were microchipped.

Additionally, anyone who purchased a Doberman puppy through Peavey’s business, Elite European Dobermans, since June 2024 was asked to contact the sheriff’s office. In particular, the sheriff’s office wants to know how many puppies are accounted for. The office noted in a post on Monday that a Colorado Springs Craigslist ad for Doberman puppies was found to be legitimate.

People can contact the sheriff’s office non-emergency number at 303-679-2393 or submit a tip online here.