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I think I killed him this time
Greeley man's family conspired to kill him
Craig woman shoots husband at Bear Valley Inn
Woman arrested in fatal stabbing of her boyfriend south of Colorado Springs
Denver woman arrested after shooting man in donut shop parking lot
Colorado Springs woman kills her Army veteran fiancé over possible wedding guest
Colorado Springs teen lured to his death by girl after his money
Woman arrested in Colorado Springs for murder of her wife
Canon City woman held for trial in homicide witnessed by neighbors
Abstracted from story by Jesse Paul, The Denver Post
April 1, 2017
— A woman fatally stabbed her boyfriend in a Five Points apartment in Denver before proclaiming
“I think I killed him this time.”
l
Elaine Gallegos,47, was being held at the Denver County Jail without bail on suspicion of first-degree murder in the slaying of Leslie Southern Jr., 56 He was pronounced dead at Denver Health medical center after being attacked on the 2100 block of Stout Street. Mr. Southern died of sharp-force injuries in what has been ruled a homicide.
Denver police say they were called out at about 12:45 AM to an apartment on the 2100 block of Stout Street where they found Southern unresponsive.
A woman who said she witnessed the stabbing told investigators that Ms. Gallegos, whom she identified as Southern's girlfriend, was responsible, according to an arrest affidavit. The witness said Gallegos and Southern were fighting when she hit him in the face and he hit her back.
Gallegos then said, “I'm gonna cut this motherfucker,” the affidavit says, before stabbing Southern once in the chest.
Ms. Gallegos called 911 and told a dispatcher that when she had returned to her apartment that she had found Leslie Southern lying on the floor bleeding. But she fled before first responders arrived. When questioned, Ms. Gallegos identified Southern as her “drinking buddy.”
In March 2018 Elaine Gallegos pled guilty to second-degree murder. On June 5, 2018, Elaine Gallegos was sentenced to 24-years in prison for the murder of her boyfriend.
Abstracted from story published by Cassa Niedringhaus on October 17, 2017, in the Coloradoan and other news stories
Murder occurred on August 15, 2017 — The wife and family members of a 59-year-old Greeley man conspired to kill him, collect his life insurance money, and sell his belongings.
Randy Baker was fatally shot in his Greeley home on August 15 th and a criminal investigation uncovered a complicated web of family members, acquaintances and strangers who police found were connected to his death, according to newly unsealed court documents.
Greeley police officers arrested three people who have since been charged with first-degree murder after deliberation and conspiring to commit first-degree murder: Randy Baker's wife, Kelly Baker, 48; his sister, Carol Baker, 63; and his nephew, Kelly Raisley, 37.
Using cell phone records and witness interviews, Greeley police pieced together the plan Randy Baker's family members began concocting as he recovered from heart surgery in June — two months before he was shot twice as he walked from his garage into his home in the 1900 block of 44 th Ave.
According to court documents detailing the police investigation, Kelly Baker began an affair and announced she was leaving Randy Baker several months preceding his murder.
Police say Kelly Baker and Randy's sister, Carol Baker, were close friends who exchanged more than 4,500 text messages during the this time frame. Carol Baker also traded messages about the plot with her son Kelly Raisley.
In one message Raisley sent to Carol Baker about six weeks before the killing, he cautioned that Mrs. Baker would have to submit to “a barrage of questions ” and would need to “understand how strong she may need to be,” according to investigators.
On the night of August 15 th Kelly Raisley snuck into Randy Baker's home, shot him and took his Pontiac. Carol Baker told police that her son instructed her to have the car destroyed, and she turned it over to her nephew, 30-year old Mark Raisley. She instructed him to sell the car to a “chop shop” or otherwise dismantle it, but Kelly Raisley instructed him to burn it.
Mark Raisley's girlfriend, Santita Bachand, and Mark's roommate, Mike Osborn, washed down and abandoned the car when media reports surfaced that it was connected to the homicide investigation, according to court documents. Mark Raisley, Mike Osborn and Ms. Sanita Bachand were later arrested. Mark Raisley and Bachard were charged with felony accessory to murder and tampering with evidence.
Although Kelly Baker initially reported to police that her husband's life insurance policies totaled a mere $10,000, later investigation revealed his life insurance was worth $123,000.
Police say Mrs. Baker and Carol Baker took cash and valuables from the home before Randy Baker's death. Shortly after his death the women also sold some of his possessions, such as a riding lawnmower and another vehicle. The women gave Randy's motorcycle to Kelly Raisley, in part, as “payment for murdering Randy Baker,” police said. Investigators also believe Raisley was paid between $10,000 and $13,000 in cash as well for the murder.
Carol Baker admitted to police that Kelly Baker and Kelly Raisley conspired to murder Randy Baker, and she facilitated their planning by forwarding messages between the two, according to court documents.
All three were charged with first-degree murder.
Kelly Raisley was sentenced to life in prison for the murder after he pled guilty in May 2018. His mother, Carol Baker, now 65, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on January 25, 2019, with Judge Lyons commenting that is fair that she die in prison for killing her brother. The trial for Randy Keller's adulterous and murderous wife is scheduled for May 6, 2019.
Story abstracted from story by Lauren Blair in the Steamboat Pilot&Times and other news stories
October 4, 2017
— Rachel Niemeyer, 40, shot her husband, Michael Freese, 48, after drinking heavily and
“messing around”
with a rifle — that was supposedly unloaded — in their hotel room, according to court documents. The couple appeared to have been living there as they looked for employment in town and hey had been married about three years.
Rachel Ann Niemeyer, 40, was charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, two counts of prohibited use of a weapon and second-degree assault of a police officer — she reportedly kicked an officer in the shin — after shooting her husband. She was originally arrested on a charge of first-degree domestic violence.
Michael Freese was transported to the hospital with an “extremely serious, life-threatening injury,” according to an emergency room physician's statement, which was included in the arrest affidavit for Mrs. Niemeyer. The bullet entered his right ear and lodged in the C2 vertebra of his spine. He was flown to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, where he died the following day.
During interviews with officers, Mrs. Neimeyer offered a fuzzy account of what happened, asking officers repeatedly if she had shot her husband. In other moments, she remarked she had done it and claimed that Michael set her up, stating that Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease four to five months earlier and that he had “told her to just take him out back and shoot him or put arsenic in his tea. ”
Mrs. Neimeyer told officers Michael had been playing around with the gun; then, they'd passed it back and forth. She added Freese had told her the weapon was not loaded. They were pulling the trigger as they passed it back and forth, she said.
They may have gotten into an argument at one point, according to her account. She told officers her husband beat her when they fought [ye olde abuse excuse], but it didn't happen regularly, and “everything had been getting better.”
The pair had just interviewed and landed jobs at the Clarion Inn earlier that day. They had started drinking to celebrate, and she had consumed a bottle of wine, he had consumed a six-pack of beer, and both had taken three shots of whiskey, according to her account.
Illustrating futility of bureaucratic, ideological bumbling, the Bear Valley Inn caretaker Anton Scherbl had attended Tuesday's Moffat County commissioners meeting, during which October was declared Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “When sitting at the county commissioners meeting, I had no idea it would come to my door step,” he stated piously. “I am very sorry that this happened to Craig.”
Abstracted from story by Jim Patterson, Craig Press
May 14, 2018 — Following a six-day trial and nearly seven hours of deliberation Monday, a jury of 10 women and two men found Rachel Niemeyer guilty of murder in the second degree in the October 4, 2017, shooting death of her husband, Michael Adam Freese.
The jury also found Niemeyer guilty of assault in the second degree, prohibited use of a firearm under the influence and prohibited use of a firearm.
Following the reading of the verdict, Chief Judge Michael A. O'Hara ordered a pre-sentencing investigative report and set a pre-sentencing hearing for 1 PM July 16, remanding Mrs. Niemeyer to the custody of the Moffat County Sheriff's Office, without bond, pending that hearing.
On Tuesday, August 14, 2018, Rachel Niemeyer was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison for the October 4, 2017, murder of her husband, Michael Adam Freese.
Abstracted from article by Ellie Mulder, Colorado Springs Gazette, and other news stories
January 17, 2018 — Ta Tyana King, 22 was arrested Wednesday in the fatal stabbing of a boyfriend south of Colorado Springs in the Stratmoor Hills area, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office announced.
Jerwarren Donterious Jackson was found lying on the ground in the 1600 block of Hampton South outside their shared apartment about 3 AM, the Sheriff's Office said. He was taken to UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central, where he died.
The murder occurred after Mr. Jackson learned that Ms. King was sleeping with another man, and a “physical altercation” occurred inside their apartment when Mr. Jackson attempted to pack his clothes.
Ms. King told investigators that Mr. Jackson punched her in the face after learning of her infidelity, and that's when she stabbed him [ye old abuse excuse]. She said she used a piece of broken glass at first, but later said she used a knife.
Investigators obtained surveillance video from the apartment complex which shows the victim clutching his abdomen and looking backward as he exited the apartment. Ms. King could be seen walking after him holding a knife. One witness said she heard Mr. Jackson begging for his life, pleading to King, “Babe stop, please just stop.”
Witnesses said Ms. King followed Jackson outside and kicked him while he laid on the ground with the stab wound. She also admitted to investigators that she told Jackson she “hoped he died,” when he was on the ground.
Jerwarren Jackson was taken to Memorial Hospital where he later died.
Sheriff deputies found Ms. King and two witnesses nearby. After deputies interviewed the witnesses she was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. She might face additional charges, the Sheriff's Office said. but she apparently doesn't have a prior criminal history in Colorado.
On June 1, 2018, Ta Tyana, or Tatyana King pled guilty to second -degree murder in the heat of passion. She faces 10 to 32 years in prison.
July 23, 2018
— Brittany Lyons, 25, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder after a fatal shooting that happened early Monday morning.
Ms. Lyons was arrested after a man was fatally shot in a parking lot of Lamar's Donuts at West Sixth Avenue and Kalamath Street about 2:30 AM. The man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:51 AM. The identity of the victim has not been released.
When police arrived at the scene they found Ms. Lyons holding a 9 mm handgun with an empty cartridge stuck in the ejection port of the weapon.
Bullet holes were also seen in a vehicle parked in front of businesses on the southeast corner of the intersection.
Police said Ms. Lyons and the victim knew each other but are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Abstracted from article by Kaitlin Durbin, Colorado Springs Gazette
July 25, 2018
— Colorado Springs police said they found Brandon Watkins, age 33,
“unresponsive and bloody”
after his fiancé, Jacqueline Souza, 31, called 911 to 6310 Cabana Circle for an
“unknown urgent medical assist.”
Court records show that Army veteran Watkins was stabbed to death Saturday after arguing with his fiancé over suspected infidelity. A steak knife was on the kitchen table near his body.
Brandon Watkins' military records show he served as a food service specialist in the Army from 2010 to 2016, deploying once for three months to Iraq. He earned many commendations.
Police said Ms. Souza tried to explain his death in many conversations with them. Initially she told them she and Watkins were coming home early Saturday from a bar, where they were celebrating their upcoming Las Vegas wedding, and they started fighting about whether to invite a certain guest. Watkins was advocating to invite a woman he once had an affair with, and she suspected it was ongoing.
They continued fighting at home, but what happened there changes with each telling, police said in their report.
First, Souza said she came out of the bathroom to find Watkins with a knife sticking out of his chest and the sliding glass door open, but police said there was no indication the home had been broken into.
Then she said he might have stabbed himself in the chest because of their fight.
Police said when they pressed her a third time, she accused him of cheating with multiple women, which she said led Watkins to grab her by the throat and push her up against the wall of the garage. Back in the kitchen they continued “trading insults” until she told police Watkins picked up a steak knife and backed her up against the sink.
At one point Ms. Souza claimed Watkins held the knife to her face to scare her. She then corrected herself, stating that he did not threaten her. But to get him away from her, Jacqueline told police, she pushed Watkins in the chest and he fell down on top of the knife. After that she called 911 and administered CPR on Watkins until help arrived.
Police said Ms. Souza's accounts are not consistent with where Brandon Watkins' body was found or with a dark bruise “roughly the size of the butt end or finger grip portion of a steak knife” on her right, dominant hand.
Ms. Souza was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. She posted a $50,000 bond and was released Tuesday morning, an El Paso County sheriff's spokeswoman said. She was scheduled for an appearance on the murder charge August 1 st . Court records show Jacqueline Souza did not have a criminal record but she was in the process of divorcing another man.
Abstracted from article by Ellie Mulder, Colorado Springs Gazette
November 5, 2019 — Luis Starkey Chavez, 17, was shot and killed on Deerfield Hills Road in southeast Colorado Springs. Two 16-year-olds, a boy and a girl, have been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in his killing.
Lured to his death by a girl he thought he was meeting for a date after boasting about having lots of money, Chavez's murder is a cautionary tale for teenagers who reveal too much to the wrong person online.
The suspects' names have not been released because of their ages and, as yet, they haven't been charged as adults. While police have released few details about the killing — and nothing about the motive — Chavez's older sister, mother and other relatives recently met with investigators to be updated on the case.
“Literally, Luis was perfect all the way around, his only flaw is he boasted a little bit,” said his sister, Rebecca Pietsch.
“He worked hard. He worked full time. So when he got his paycheck, he'd be quick to kind of flaunt it on Facebook to impress the other teenage girls, you know what I mean? He'd like to brag about that. Like, how many other 16- or 17-year-olds do you know that are pulling in $800, $900 checks every week? And he bragged about it to get the girls. He wasn't a virgin teenager, that's for sure.”
That bragging took the form of posting photos on his Facebook page of him fanning out large bills, $20s and $100s.
The online bragging made him an “easy target” — his sister said he'd been set up before by a girl who apparently wanted his money.
This time, when a girl reached out to Luis, Pietsch said, “she told my brother all he had to do was just bring her a little bit of weed, and she was home all alone. Their motive was robbery, so they just shot him in his head.”
Her brother likely didn't have more than $300 on him, Pietsch said. His grandmother had helped him open up a bank account, and he wanted to start saving up to buy a car.
“My grandma started putting that rule on him, like not to carry your full $900 cash on you after cashing your check,” Pietsch said. “He started depositing his money, so that's even the most stupidest part about it. If they would have caught him on a good day, yeah, they probably would have got $800 or $900 off of him, which still isn't worth a life, but that week, I think they only got like $300 off of him, tops.”
Abstracted from various news stories
November 27, 2018
— A 28-year-old woman is accused of killing her wife during a fight outside of their apartment complex near Palmer Park, an arrest affidavit shows.
Jamie Crawford was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Candace R. Jones, 35.
The shooting happened around 9 PM outside an apartment on Knoll Lane, which is in the area of Academy Boulevard and Austin Bluffs Parkway. The victim died on the scene.
The suspect, 28-year-old Jamie Crawford of Colorado Springs, has been arrested on first-degree murder charges.
Abstracted from article by Tracy Harmon, The Pueblo Chieftain
October 27, 2020
— A 32-year-old local woman pled not-guilty to charges she faces in a first-degree murder case following a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Fremont County District Court.
Shera Marie Carter, 32, is charged with first-degree murder, felony menacing, violation of bail conditions, violation of a protection order and a crime of violence sentencing enhancer in connection with the May 2 shooting death of Coty Bass, 33, of Canon City. Fremont County District Court Judge Ramsey Lama held her for trial after finding there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed on the charges of first-degree murder, felony menacing and violation of bail conditions.
According to the testimony of Fremont County Sheriff's Office Detective Dathan Gall, he responded to the shooting at 2190 Washington St. where he observed a blood trail leading from the dumpster area, a spent shell casing and an unspent cartridge laying on the ground.
Detective Gall testified that Shera Carter's wife, Veronica Carter, 29, reported that Shera Carter and Mr. Bass were arguing because he had borrowed a vehicle from the couple and kept it longer than he was supposed to. When the couple recovered the vehicle several of Bass's personal items were inside.
Ms. Carter reportedly threw Mr. Bass's items in a dumpster because she was angry that the couple's 9-year-old found used syringes inside a backpack, according to Detective Gall's testimony of his interview with Veronica Carter.
As Bass was attempting to recover his items from the dumpster he and Shera Carter began yelling at each other.
Veronica Carter told Gall that Bass was yelling at her “You (expletive) up this is the end of you...you are dead,” according to Gall's testimony. Ms. Carter reported responded by telling Bass, “Stop wrecking my family,” Gall reported during cross-examination questioning from Public Defender Adam Tunink.
Detective Gall was able to recover video surveillance footage from a neighbor. He testified the footage revealed, “When he (Bass) first starts to walk in her direction, he is pointing at her.”
Witness Adrianne Leach testified she heard the two yelling back and forth at each other then heard Shera Carter yell, “Come at me bro,” Leach said.
Leach said Coty Bass, looked “under the influence and very angry,” as he came up to Shera Carter who was standing on or near the porch of her mobile home. He then turned and walked away and “she followed him,” she said.
Shera Carter later can be seen pointing a gun toward Bass's back. The video then shows, “him taking a couple small steps toward her patting his chest,” Detective Gall testified. “He then puts his open hands down. Nothing is observed in his hands...After the firearm goes off he turns and runs.”
A neighbor reported hearing a pop followed by the victim beating on the door or side of her trailer calling for help. The witness said she could see Bass collapse in her driveway.
The time that Shera Carter was pointing the weapon at the victim was “around 20 seconds,” Gall said. The gun “was raised high and pointed at his head or chest level.” The video showed Shera Carter's truck driving by and leaving the area. She later turned herself in to authorities that evening.
Another witness, Miles Cagle, testified that Bass's body language was aggressive and he feared Bass would strike Shera Carter. He yelled at Coty Bass and told him to get out of the trailer park.
An autopsy concluded Coty Bass died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
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