Murder-for-Hire
In November 2008, an Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to the detention facility forwarded information to the Special
Investigations Section (SIS) regarding a pre-trial inmate who was attempting to hire someone to kill a prosecution witness
in his case. Upon evaluation of the information, SIS Investigators coordinated a joint effort with detentions personnel to
corroborate the information and build a case for Criminal Solicitation to Commit Murder. With the assistance of the Detentions
Intel Deputy and staff in the mailroom and telecommunications, SIS Investigators were able to monitor the suspected inmate’s
activities, mail correspondence and telephone conversations for evidence of criminal activity.
SIS Investigators conducted an undercover operation with a confidential informant and learned that the inmate had an accomplice
outside the detention facility who was acting as his agent in hiring the “hit man.” In a second operation, the accomplice
met with an undercover officer and made payment for the “hit.” Investigators arrested and booked both suspects – the inmate
and his accomplice – into jail for Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder. The targeted witness is now under witness protection
by the District Attorney’s Office.
Suspicious Circumstance – Possible Attempted Kidnapping
In mid-November, a 15-year-old female reported that, while walking her dog, a white male pulled over alongside her and asked
her for directions to a nearby store. Once she was near the passenger side door of the vehicle, the male unsuccessfully attempted
to grab her and pull her into the vehicle. She struggled against the male, who was reaching across from the driver’s seat
of the vehicle, and was able to safely return home and contact her parents. Patrol responded and canvassed the area but could
not locate the suspect or his vehicle.
The Investigator assigned to the case worked with the female and produced a composite drawing of the suspect, which was disseminated
as a media release and as a law enforcement bulletin to other metro area agencies. Upon seeing the internal bulletin, a Detentions
Deputy believed that the man in the composite could possibly have been a former inmate. A comparison of booking photographs
and the composite drawing revealed a striking resemblance between the unidentified suspect and the former inmate, who also
had a history of sex offenses.
The Investigator prepared a photo lineup using the most recent booking photograph of the former inmate; however, the victim
was unable to identify the male from the vehicle in any of the photographs. Investigators also have been unable to locate
the former inmate at any of his previous addresses. There have been no further leads in the case and the investigation continues.
|