The Murder of Shelley Dorsey

 

During the early-morning hours of March 24th, 2015, police in Colorado Springs, CO responded to a call about a shooting in 100 block of South Academy Boulevard. When the officers arrived, they found a young woman suffering from a gunshot wound by a vehicle. The woman was soon identified as 26-year-old Shelley Dorsey. 

Shelley unfortunately succumbed to her injuries a short time after first responders arrived. Her death was quickly ruled a murder. It was determined that Shelley had been sitting her car in front of the Mountain Country Estates apartment complex around 1:00 AM when she was shot by an unknown suspect. To this day, no arrests have been made in Shelley's case; nor have any suspects been publicly announced. 

Very few details are available about Shelley's case and the events leading up to her murder. What is known is that she has a son, loving parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews who have been left without answers or justice. Shelley's murder has been labeled as a cold case by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. 

Both the CBI and the Colorado Springs Police Department have investigative agency over this case. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Shelley Dorsey, please contact authorities at (719) 444-7000 or (303)-239-4201.

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Sources:
Colorado Cold Case Files
Fox 21 News Colorado
KKTV

The Murder of Jessica Bejarano

 

Jessica Bejarano was only 25 years-old when her life was tragically taken on April 6th, 2007. 

That day, police in Frederick, Colorado responded to a 911 call at her residence on Larkspur Circle. When officers entered the home, they found Jessica unresponsive on her bathroom floor. She had suffered a single stab wound to the chest. The first responders attempted life-saving measures to no avail, and Jessica was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jessica's two children, a 4-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, were also found in the home when police arrived. The children were reportedly distraught, but physically unharmed. According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, "it appeared that [the children] had been unkept for most of the day and may have witnessed the murder."

When the investigation into Jessica's murder began, police initially looked into several suspects, including Jessica's husband. He was eventually cleared after it was determined he was at work at the time of the stabbing. As time passed without any arrests, news about Jessica's murder began to fade. The case soon grew cold.

Nearly 18 years later, in March 2025, a major break was announced: a 72-year-old man named Darrell Burkland had been arrested and charged with Jessica's murder. According to reports, "investigators ultimately obtained DNA evidence that subsequently yielded a potential match" to Burkland. Then, on March 14th, 2025, "investigators conducted a follow-up interview with Burklund. Following the interview, Burklund was arrested and taken into custody at the York County Sheriff’s Detention Center, in York, Nebraska."

Burkland was 54 years-old at the time of the crime. He worked as a maintenance worker. At the time of Burkland's arrest, no further details about the investigation were provided. Although he was arrested in Nebraska, he will face the charges for Jessica's murder in Colorado. The case is currently pending. 

Sources:
ABC 7 Denver
Colorado Bureau of Investigation, (2)

The Disappearance and Murder of Suzanne Morphew

source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Suzanne Morphew (49) vanished on May 10th, 2020. The mother-of-two disappeared on Mother's Day. It was originally reported that she left her Maysville, Colorado home to go for a bike ride. Suzanne never returned home, and a neighbor reported her missing later that evening.

Initial searches for Suzanne ended unsuccessfully. Reports stated that search crews "of more than 100 investigators, eight tracking dogs and four drones, as well as members of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, South Ark Swiftwater Rescue and Reach Air Ambulance have been unable to find her." The only trace of Suzanne that was found was her bicycle, which was located in a nearby ravine shortly after she was reported missing. 

Suzanne's husband, Barry Morphew, put a $100,000 reward in place for anyone with information about Suzanne's whereabouts. That reward was later increased to $200,000 after a friend donated money to the case. Barry told police and loved ones that he was in Denver on the day she vanished - which is an approximate 3-hour drive away from their home in Maysville. 

However, in October 2020, new information about Barry's alleged alibi surfaced. It was originally reported that Barry was in the Denver area on the day Suzanne vanished. He said that he left the family's Maysville home during the early morning hours of May 10th, and then returned later that afternoon after learning of his wife's disappearance. Barry went to the Denver area to work on a landscaping job. He was hired by the president of the landscaping company, who also happens to be his close friend. 

However, Barry's name is reportedly not on any documentation related to this specific job. Additionally, the job was reportedly scheduled for Monday, May 11th - not Sunday, May 10th. In fact, the city did not issue a special permit for the work to be completed on a weekend, which would have been required for this particular job.

All of this information leads to many questions. Did Barry actually go to the Denver area that day? And if so, why did he go a whole a day earlier than necessary? Why did he lie about the date of the job? Suspicions had been cast on Barry since the beginning of the investigation - especially when it revealed that Suzanne was unhappy in their marriage and was having an affair with another man. She had reportedly begun a relationship with this man two years prior, while she was going through chemotherapy.

In May 2021, Barry Morphew was arrested and charged with Suzanne's murder. At that point, loved ones of Suzanne felt they were one step closer to getting answers. Unfortunately, though, this would end up being far from true.

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Barry's arrest.

source: Law and Crime

Barry's arrest came nearly a year after Suzanne's disappearance. At the time, authorities did not disclose any other details, but they revealed that Barry is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempting to influence a public servant, and tampering with evidence. 

The spy pen.

Meanwhile, more and more speculation about what happened to Suzanne began to surface. It was revealed that Suzanne had been using a spy pen prior to her disappearance. The purpose of the pen was for Suzanne to record Barry so she could potentially catch him in an affair. 

source: CBS News

However, the pen would reveal to investigators that Suzanne was actually having an affair herself. The man with whom she was having an affair was eventually located and questioned. His alibi checked out and he was cleared of suspicion.

Other speculation.

The main theories that began to surface involved Barry being responsible. Some speculated that Barry killed Suzanne after she asked for a divorce, or after he found out about her affair. Barry himself speculated that Suzanne was taken by someone else, or that she was harmed by something in nature - possibly a mountain lion. 

Additionally, during the initial investigation into Suzanne's disappearance, detectives found empty tranquilizer darts and a tranquilizer needle in the Morphew's yard. Barry told police that he often used those tranquilizers to "sedate deer and remove their antlers to sell in his hunting business."

April 2022 update: charges dropped.

Almost a year after the arrest, a judge dismissed the first-degree murder charges against Barry Morphew in April 2022. This ruling came after the prosecution filed a motion to dismiss the charges without prejudice - which means Barry can be charged again at a later date. 

The prosecutor implied that they hoped to charge Barry again once after finding Suzanne's body. At that time, authorities said that they were close to finding her remains, but the snow is preventing them from doing so. Court documents state that authorities "zeroed in on a remote and mountainous area near the Morphew's home." Said area was covered in snow at the time this was reported. It's unclear if investigators ever got to search the area.

May 2023: Barry files a lawsuit, speaks out.

source: ABC News

In May 2023, Barry filed a $15 million lawsuit claiming that he was falsely charged with his wife's murder. Shortly thereafter, Barry and his two daughters with Suzanne spoke to ABC News and proclaimed Barry's innocence. The daughters supported their father and stated that they never had a single inkling that he was involved in their mother's disappearance. 

September 2023: Remains found.

During September 2023, it was reported that authorities searched "an area of Moffat in Saguache County on an investigation not related to the Morphew investigation" when human remains were found. Days later, those remains were positively identified as that of Suzanne Morphew.

source: KRDO Newschannel 13

This area is located approximately 45 miles away from the Morphew home - which means that investigators were incorrect about their belief that Suzanne's body was hidden in a mountainous area near their home. However, her body was found in a shallow grave, and it was obvious that someone else had placed her in such location. 

April 2024: Suzanne's autopsy results are revealed.

After Suzanne's remains were discovered, investigators remained quiet about her cause and manner of death for months. Then, in April 2024, it was announced that Suzanne "died homicide by undetermined means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine (BAM) intoxication."

BAM is often found in the tranquilizers that Barry previously admitted to using at his home. This has obviously cast even more suspicion on Barry. In fact, Suzanne's loved ones told reporters that they are not surprised to learn that she was killed in such a way - as they had believed this to be the case from the start. 

June 2025: Barry is arrested again.

Approximately 14 months after Suzanne's autopsy results were revealed, another break in the case occurred: Barry Morphew was arrested again. In June 2025, authorities announced that they had apprehended Barry in Gilbert, Arizona. He was once again charged with first-degree murder in Suzanne's case.

It appears that this time around, investigators finally found the evidence they needed to move forward with the murder charges. Not only has Suzanne's body been found, her autopsy results and other records produced even more evidence that point to Barry's involvement. As previously noted, Suzanne had BAM in her system when she died. Prescription records from the Maysville area show that Barry Morphew was the only individual in that area who accessed BAM during the timeframe in which Suzanne was murdered.

Barry is currently behind bars as the case is pending. 

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Sources:
9 News, (2)
AP News
CNN
Daily Beast
Heavy
Inside Edition

The Disappearance of Nicole Silvers

Source: Greeley Tribune

Nicole Evelyn Silvers was only 16 years-old when she vanished during the early morning hours of April 9th, 2014. The teenage girl disappeared from Longmont, Colorado. Reports state that Nicole was last seen sitting in a dark colored 1980s-model sedan near the 1000 block of Sunset Street. She has never been seen or heard from again. 

Nicole was reportedly staying with a friend's family in Longmont before she vanished, but her own family lived nearby. Certain reports state that Nicole's "familial relationships may have been strained" at the time of her disappearance. However, Nicole spent time with her older sister on April 8th - the day before she vanished.

According to reports, Nicole's older sister dropped Nicole off at her friend's house on the evening on April 8th, 2014, and then never saw or heard from her again. It appears that the last documented sighting of Nicole occurred hours later when she was spotted sitting in the sedan near Sunset Street. Her whereabouts since then remain unknown to this day.

Nicole was initially classified as a runaway, but eventually, investigators changed their tune. In fact, Weld County Cold Case Detective Byron Kastilhan told reporters that he does not believe Nicole had motive to run away. She was a high school student, she had a job at a local pizza parlor, and a lot of loving people in her life. There is also no evidence that Nicole planned to leave on her own accord.

Over the years, there has been a lot of online speculation about what might have happened to Nicole. Some commented about Nicole having a boyfriend who was in his 20s - but it's unclear if this boyfriend was ever identified. It is also unclear who owned the car that Nicole was last seen sitting in. 

There are a lot of unanswered questions about Nicole's disappearance. She remains missing today. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact the Weld County Sheriff's Office at 970-356-4015.

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Sources:
9 News
Charley Project
Greeley Tribune
Longmont Leader, (2)
Websleuths

The Disappearance and Murder of Kara Nichols

 

Kara Nichols vanished at the age of 19 on October 9th, 2012. The young woman was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During her early teen years, Kara began using drugs, and she struggled with addiction throughout high school. She graduated from a local alternative high school and then got a job as a waitress. Around the same time, Kara began to pursue a career in modeling as well. Unbeknownst to her parents, Kara had also been working as an escort since she was 17 years old. 

During the summer of 2012, Kara's parents moved to Chicago, Illinois. Kara initially moved with them but continued to struggle with drug addiction. She later decided to return to Colorado Springs and ended up moving into a house there with three male roommates. Kara also returned to her previous waitressing job and continued to pursue modeling. She created a Model Mayhem profile to help her network with more agencies and photographers.

It appeared that Kara was getting more and more work as a model. In fact, on the evening of her disappearance, Kara told her roommates that a friend was picking her up and driving her to a modeling job. Unfortunately, she never returned home and was never seen or heard from again. 

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Kara is reported missing.

Over the following two days, Kara's brother attempted to contact her several times but was unable to get in touch. On October 12th, 2012, Kara's brother reported her missing--but police initially did not take the case seriously. Kara's brother was told that Kara is an adult and was free to remain out-of-touch. However, Kara's family members knew something was wrong--as it was uncharacteristic for her to not contact them. 

As weeks passed without any sign of Kara, the investigation finally began to progress. It was discovered that Kara's cell phone pinged one final time at 11:45 PM on the evening of her disappearance. The phone appeared to be traveling towards Denver.

Associates & sightings.

In November 2014, investigators announced that they wanted to talk to two brunette women who were seen with Kara on the evening of October 9th. It's believed that both women were associates of Kara's through the modeling/escorting business. 

One of the persons of interest (click to enlarge)

Over the years, there were numerous reported sightings of Kara. Some have reportedly seen her accompanied by a man in the area of Fillmore Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The witnesses stated that Kara appeared frightened of the man. Still, these sightings were never confirmed.

In May 2014, a recording was released of Deputy Sheriff Cliff Porter admitting that he had "cut corners in regards to the investigation" and did not look into certain pieces of evidence in the beginning of the case. Kara's family members grew continually frustrated by the lack of urgency in her case. They subsequently placed a monetary reward for anyone with information about her disappearance in hopes that it would encourage someone to come forward.

Broken silence.

In early 2022, a woman named Kristina Hollendorfer spoke to investigators and implicated her husband, Joel Hollendorfer, as the man responsible for Kara's disappearance.

Investigators interviewed Joel several times throughout their investigation into Kara's disappearance. Phone records showed that Kara and Joel had been in contact several times on the night she vanished. Joel told investigators that he had solicited Kara's escort services, but they never actually met up. 

Police also attempted to speak with Kristina several times throughout the investigation, but she was reportedly uncooperative. However, in 2022, she finally decided to break her silence. She then told investigators that Joel admitted to her that he "accidentally killed an escort he hired and buried her body on top of an old horse grave on his parent's property." On February 3rd, 2022, investigators searched said property and found human remains. Days later, it was confirmed that the remains belonged to Kara Nichols.

Joel Hollendorfer was charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence shortly thereafter.

A conviction.

In June of 2023, Joel Hollendorfer was ultimately found guilty of manslaughter in the case of Kara Nichols. He was not found guilty in the second-degree murder charges, as it is believed that he accidentally killed Kara. However, the court is considering an enhanced sentencing for Hollendorfer, as he is labeled as a habitual offender who has violated his parole on several occasions. 
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Sources:
Arrest affidavit
Court TV
The Gazette
KOAA
Stories of the Unsolved

The Disappearance of Jepsy Amaga Kallungi

Jepsy Amaga Kallungi went missing on March 21st, 2019. The-then-26-year-old woman was last seen in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she lived with her husband Dane Kallungi. Jepsy moved to Colorado from the Philippines in 2017, after meeting Dane online that same year. 

Jepsy’s mother, who lived in Hong Kong at the time, last spoke to Jepsy on March 20th, 2019. After days passed without hearing from her daughter, Jepsy’s mother reached out to Dane on social media. He replied, saying he has no clue about Jepsy’s whereabouts—and then he promptly deleted his social media accounts. 

On April 4th, Colorado Springs PD received a request for a welfare check to be done at Jepsy’s home. After being unable to contact her, the missing person report was filed. Police questioned Dane, who told them that he believed Jepsy was preparing to travel to the Philippines, Mexico, or Chicago to visit friends. However, there is not any known record of her traveling to any of those places.  

After Jepsy’s disappearance, Dane moved to California to live with his father. Dane also told Jepsy’s family that he and Jepsy had separated shortly before her disappearance, and that she had started seeing a new man named Travis. He reportedly said to Jepsy’s mother, “I hope she didn’t get into any trouble with him.” However, Jepsy’s family members and friends are not aware of her being close to a man named Travis and they were also unaware about her alleged separation from Dane. 

Dane continually denied any involvement in Jepsy's disappearance, though he remained a suspect. Investigators remained quiet about the status of the investigator for over two years. Then, in June 2021, it was announced that Dane was arrested and charged with Jepsy's murder. He was reportedly arrested while attempting to enter an Air Force base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

The investigation and trial.

Throughout the investigation in Jepsy's disappearance, authorities reportedly found physical evidence showing that a "domestic disturbance occurred where Dane Kallungi strangled Jepsy Kallungi and buried her body in an unknown location.” 

In March 2023, Dane went to trial and was found guilty of Jepsy's murder. During his trial, the prosecution played Dane's interrogation tape for the jury. In the recording, he is heard saying "I did not mean to kill her, I just wanted her to stop cursing at me." Dane's defense claimed the confession was coerced, and that he only admitted to the killing to protect his son and ex-wife.

The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution and convicted Dane of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Jepsy's remains have still not been found. 

The Murder of Margaret Sweet

image source

Margaret Sweet had a lot going on in her life during December of 2008. The 38-year-old woman was staying with her father and stepmother in Colorado Springs, Colorado while her stepmother recovered from surgery. Margaret was also in the midst of leaving an abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend. Despite all of this, Margaret was still looking forward to celebrating the holidays with her loved ones. Unfortunately, she never got the chance. On the night of Christmas Eve, Margaret was brutally murdered outside her father's home. 

Before her murder, Margaret and her father, James Egger, were taking turns visiting Margaret's stepmother at the hospital. On the evening of December 24th, James was at the hospital while Margaret remained at home. When James returned home on Christmas morning, he found his daughter in the front yard. She had been shot to death.

Throughout the investigation, detectives learned that neighbors heard sounds of a man and woman yelling on the evening of Margaret's murder. The yelling continued until a gunshot was heard. Despite this, 9-1-1 was not called and Margaret's body was not discovered until later. The investigation also revealed many other details about Margaret's death that lead to a few different theories. Still, the prominent question remains: Who killed Margaret Sweet?

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Who was Margaret?

image source: uncovered.com

Margaret 'Mae' Sweet was known as an adventurous and kind person. Some people knew her as Mae, while others knew her as Shelby Jamison. According to family members, Margaret loved outdoor activities such as white water rafting and hiking. She also was an animal lover, and she enjoyed rescuing stray animals. 

Margaret's loved ones also described her as a reliable and caring young woman. Many remain baffled by her murder. There are a few prominent theories about her killer(s), but so far, no arrests have been made.

The relationship.

As previously stated, Margaret was in the midst of leaving an abusive boyfriend before she was killed. Before moving back to Colorado Springs, Margaret lived in Nashville, Tennessee - where she met Jere Dale Batts. The two began a relationship that many described as tumultuous. Batts denies ever physically harming her, but Margaret's family members stated that they saw several bruises and injuries on her body while she was dating him. 

On May 13th, 2008 - just months before her murder - Margaret filed an order of protection against Batts. The order was filed after Batts followed her across the country to Colorado Springs. This inevitably raised suspicions about Batts when Margaret ended up murdered - but he denies involvement. In fact, Batts told police that he was on a date with another woman at the time of Margaret's death. 

While many are still suspicious of Batts, he has not been charged with anything related to Margaret's murder. As detectives continued to investigate the case, they learned other information that could also potentially lead to a suspect.

The gun.

After conducting a ballistics report, investigators learned that the gun used to kill Margaret had been using during another shooting that occurred during 2007. During said incident, the gun was used to injure a man during a drug deal. The victim survived and arrest was never made.

Due to this finding, investigators had to determine whether or not Margaret's death was also related to drugs. A toxicology report determined that Margaret was sober at the time of her death. Investigators were unable to find any further evidence that she was involved with drugs and/or drug dealers.

It still seems like an odd coincidence that the same gun was used in both the 2007 drug deal incident and Margaret's murder - but investigators have been unable to identify the owner of the gun.

Convenience store incident.

In 2018, a detective working Margaret's case told reporters that Margaret got into a verbal argument with a group of people just days before her murder. The detective stated that they still had not identified the people in this group, but they were hoping to speak with them. It's unclear if these people are considered suspects or if the incident itself is related to Margaret's murder - but they have yet to be ruled out.

Very little other information about this incident is available. It appears detectives are still hoping to identify the individuals involved.

The investigation today.

The murder of Margaret Sweet remains unsolved today. Her loved ones have not given up on finding justice. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000 or email cspdcoldcase@springsgov.com with tips.

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Sources:
Colorado Cold Case Files
Fox 21 News
Uncovered

The Disappearance & Murder of Kayleah Wilson

Image source: Dignity Memorial

Kayleah Wilson was only 12 years-old when she was tragically murdered during the spring of 2010. The young girl was last seen alive by her family on March 28th, 2010. That day, Kayleah left her Greeley, Colorado home to walk to the local mall. She planned to meet a friend at the mall so the two of them could go to a birthday party together. Kayleah was expected to return home by 7:00 PM, but she never arrived. She was reported missing by her mother around 10:00 PM that same night. 

At first, police thought that Kayleah might be a runaway. Then, after speaking with people in Kayleah's circle, investigators learned that she had never met up with her friend as planned, nor had she shown up for the birthday party. By March 31st, the Greeley Police announced that they no longer believed Kayleah had run away. Several different investigators were assigned to the case, including members of the FBI. 

Kayleah's mother April Wilson revealed to detectives that Kayleah had a relationship with an 18-year-old named Robert Montoya. Robert was interviewed shortly thereafter, during which he admitted to having a sexual relationship with Kayleah between the months of October 2009 and February 2010. Robert also admitted that he was aware that Kayleah was only 12 years-old. However, he reportedly did not provide police with any information about Kayleah's whereabouts. 

Widespread searches for Kayleah turned up empty. Then, on the morning of May 19th, 2010, a ditch rider turned on the water in an irrigation ditch in west Greeley. The rider noticed a body rolling in the water at the base of a 10-foot waterfall. Police were called, and investigators rushed to the scene. It was almost immediately believed that the body was Kayleah - but due to decomposition, an identification could not be made on the spot. 

That same day, Robert Montoya was arrested and charged with sexual assault on a child as a pattern of abuse. The charges stemmed from Robert's admission that he had several sexual encounters with Kayleah. At that time, -police reportedly did not have enough evidence to charge Robert with anything related to Kayleah's disappearance - but they did have enough evidence to bring about the sexual assault charges.

Two days later, on May 21st, 2010, it was confirmed that the body found in the irrigation ditch did, in fact, belong to Kayleah Wilson. From that point forward, the case shifted to a murder investigation. 
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Police have never revealed Kayleah's exact cause of death - only that she was murdered. Robert Montoya seemed like an obvious suspect, but he had only been charged with sexual assault - not murder. 

Image source: Denver Post

It's known that Robert Montoya admitted to having sex with Kayleah when was she was just 12 years-old. But did he also kill her? And if he didn't, then who did?

The timeline of events in this case may lead to a few viable theories. 

October 2009.

In October 2009, Kayleah's mother April Wilson allowed Robert to move into her residence after his own mother had asked him to move out. According to Robert's arrest affidavit, Roxanne Montoya wanted her children out of the house so she could continue having a relationship with her boyfriend, Jonas Garcia. Garcia is a registered sex offender and was therefore banned from going into homes where children were living. 

Over time, April noticed that Kayleah and Robert had grown close, but she thought they were just friends.  She initially did not notice a physical relationship between her daughter and Robert. 

December 2009 - January 2010.

According to the affidavit, April began to suspect that Kayleah and Robert were in a physical relationship during December 2009. April told police that she noticed that they had been spending time alone together in Kayleah's bedroom. She never saw them engaged in any sexual activity, but her suspicions about Robert and Kayleah's relationship continued to build.

The affidavit further explains that April confronted both Kayleah and Robert about their relationship during the first week of January 2010. During their conversation, both Kayleah and Robert admitted that they had been having sex. They also told April that they considered themselves to be a couple. April explained to detectives that, upon hearing this, she immediately kicked Robert out of her home and ordered him to stop having any interaction with her daughter. 

Early February 2010.

April explained that Kayleah was initially angry with her after she kicked Robert out. However, as time passed, Kayleah stopped talking about her relationship with Robert - leading April to believe that she had moved on. 

The affidavit states that April caught Robert with Kayleah one final time during early February. She spotted the two of them together at an abandoned car dealership on 28th St. April said she confronted them and once again ordered Robert to stay away from Kayleah.

On February 19th, 2010, Greeley police were dispatched to Brentwood Middle School, where Kayleah was a student. The officers were sent to the school after receiving reports of a young man looking into the classroom windows from outside the building. Once there, police made contact with Robert Montoya. It's unclear what was said during this encounter, but no arrests were made. 

At the time of this incident, police were unaware that Robert had an inappropriate relationship with one of the students at the middle school. It seems likely that the police ordered him to leave the property after they approached him, and Robert complied - giving no further reason for action to be taken. 

Robert himself would later admit to police that he went to the middle school that day because he wanted to see Kayleah. More about this will be addressed below.

March 1st-27th, 2010.

There are no documented interactions between Kayleah and Robert during this time period. It is possible that they did interact without anyone finding out, but there is no evidence to suggest this happened. Police were still unaware of their relationship at this point. 

Robert himself later claimed that he did not see Kayleah beyond February 2010. 

March 28th, 2010.

As previously stated, Kayleah vanished on March 28th. She left her home around 3:40 PM en route to Greeley Mall. Surveillance footage captured her walking near the mall shortly thereafter. At the time she was captured, she was walking alone. She was never seen or heard from again. 

Kayleah never meets up with her friend, nor does she make it to the birthday party. Her mother April begins to worry when she does not return by 7:00 PM. After waiting for Kayleah to return, April finally contacted police around 10:00 PM. 

March 28th - March 30th, 2010. 

Detectives spent the next two days interviewing various people in Kayleah's life. While speaking with Kayleah's mother April, police learned about the inappropriate relationship between Kayleah and Robert Montoya. Kayleah's friends also corroborate her relationship with Robert. In fact, some of Kayleah's friends told police that she had made comments about possibly being pregnant with Robert's child. 

March 31st, 2010.

Police questioned Robert Montoya on March 31st, 2010. During this interview that Robert admitted to having a sexual relationship with Kayleah up until mid February 2010. His arrest affidavit describes this interview, stating in part, "[Robert Montoya] did admit that he knew [Kayleah] was only twelve years of age and he was an adult."

Robert told police that his relationship with Kayleah ended in mid-February 2010 after Kayleah's mother learned that they were speaking again. He admitted that he continued to try and contact Kayleah. On some occasions, he hid in the bushes near her residence. Robert also admitted to waiting for her outside of her middle school. He referenced the February 19th incident, and he also said that Kayleah had called him a "stalker freak" after he tried to encounter her at the school. 

Even after these admissions, police did not immediately arrest Robert. Meanwhile, the search for Kayleah continued.

May 19th, 2010.

During the early morning hours of May 19th, the body of a young female was spotted in the water in an irrigation ditch. The irrigation ditch is located less than half a mile away from the home of Kayleah Wilson - leading many to believe that it is her. However, as previously stated, the body was too decomposed to make an immediate identification.

Image source: CBS News

That same day, Robert Montoya was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child in connection to his relationship with Kayleah.

May 21st, 2010.

On May 21st, 2010, it was confirmed that the body found in the irrigation ditch was, in fact, Kayleah Wilson. Her death was classified as a murder. Many expected Robert Montoya to be charged with murder in addition to sexual assault - but those charges never came forth. 

March 2011 - June 2011.

Almost a year after Kayleah's disappearance, Robert Montoya went to trial for the child sexual assault charges. According to reports, the defense's main argument was whether or not Robert and Kayleah had any sexual encounters after January 18th, 2010 - Robert's 18th birthday. When he moved into April Wilson's home during October 2009, Robert was still 17 years-old, therefore still considered a minor in the state of Colorado. 

When Robert was questioned by police in relation to Kayleah's disappearance, he said that his relationship with her continued up until mid-February 2010, which would have been after his 18th birthday. 

After a three-day trial, the jury found Robert Montoya guilty of the child sexual assault charges. Months later, in June 2011, a judge sentenced him to eight years in prison. 

July 2011-December 2014.

The investigation into Kayleah's murder still continued after Robert Montoya was sent to prison. Some hoped that police would pursue murder charges against him, but once again, no additional charges were filed. 

Meanwhile, Robert began working on appealing his sentence. On December 31st, 2014, a judge granted Robert a retrial. Robert's defense attorneys cited the original argument in the first trial - whether or not Robert had a sexual encounter with Kayleah after his 18th birthday. At this point, Robert claimed that he actually did not have sex with Kayleah after being kicked out of the Wilson's home. His defense attorneys argued that his confession back in March 2010 was coerced by police. 

April 2016.

Two years later, the Weld County District Attorney ended up dropping the charges against Robert Montoya - making him a free man. He no longer faces any charges related to Kayleah Wilson. 

May 2017.

Seven years after Kayleah's body was found, police announced that they know who killed her. Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner is quoted saying "We don’t have any doubts. But there are standards of proof we have to meet.” It was not explicitly stated that the person police referred to is, in fact, Robert Montoya - but many speculate this to be the case.

Where the case stands today.

Tragically, the murder of Kayleah Wilson is still classified as unsolved. Police hope to eventually receive the evidence they need to move forward with charges. 

If you have any information that could finally help crack the case, please contact Greeley Police at (970) 350-9600.
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Sources:
CBS News, 2
Greeley Tribune
Robert Montoya's arrest affidavit
Summit Daily
Westword

The Murder of Hailey Perkins

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Hailey Perkins was found murdered inside her family's Pueblo West, Colorado home on June 27th, 2022. The young girl was just 13 years-old, and she was killed one day before her 14th birthday. Pueblo County Police were sent to the Perkins home shortly after 10:00 AM on June 27th after they received a call about an unresponsive female. When officers arrived at the house, they found Hailey deceased. Her death was labeled a homicide.

The news about Hailey's tragic death quickly spread throughout the community. However, her exact manner of death was not immediately revealed. Initial reports about Hailey's case labeled her death as "suspicious" - but no other details were provided. As such, many rumors began to spread about what might have happened to Hailey. One prominent rumor was that drugs were involved in her death. Just days later, though, police confirmed that Hailey had actually been murdered. 

It was later revealed that Hailey died from a gunshot wound to the head. No arrests have been made, nor have any suspects or persons of interest been publicly identified. Despite this, police have maintained that there is no current threat to the public. Police have otherwise remained quiet about the details of Hailey's case, but the investigation is active and ongoing. 

Hailey leaves behind two brothers, one of whom was her twin. She also leaves behind her parents, friends, and her other loving family members. The community is determined to find justice for the young girl. A Go Fund Me has been created to help raise money for funeral and investigative services. If you are interested in donating, you can do so here.

If you have any information that could lead to the arrest of Hailey's killer(s), please call 719-542-STOP.

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Sources:

KOAA

Meaww

The Pueblo Chieftan

The Murder of Chantila Wooten

Chantila Wooten was murdered inside her Aurora, Colorado residence on October 8th, 2010. The 24 year-old woman grew up in Denver, and had only lived in her Aurora residence for about a month at the time of her death. Chantila worked as a nursing assistant at a nursing home and was described by her family members as a kind, happy, and fun-loving person. A motive for her murder remains unclear. 

According to reports, police were called to Chantila's residence on Clinton Street around 3:30 PM on the day of the murder. Once police arrived, they discovered that Chantila had been attacked and killed. An autopsy later confirmed that she died from sharp-force trauma. Very few other details about the death have been revealed.

The Adams County Police Department called a press conference four days after Chantila's murder. At the conference, a spokesperson for the police department announced that the investigation was in "a fragile place" and that no other details could be revealed at that point. Chantila's sister Kayla Coleman also spoke at the conference, and she announced that she believed Chantila was killed by somebody she knew. "It had to be someone she knew," Coleman said. "She was very trusting. Her heart was too big."

Years have passed since Chantila's brutal murder, and still no arrests have been made. In 2018, Chantila's family once again appealed to the public for anyone with information to come forward. Other than that, it appears that there have been very few updates in Chantila's case. 

Chantila's case remains opened, and there is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to her killer. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please call the tip line at 720-913-7867.
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Sources:
9 News
The Denver Post
Metro Denver Crime Stoppers

The Disappearance & Presumed Murder of Kelsie Schelling

Kelsie Schelling (21) had just recently learned she was pregnant when she disappeared from Pueblo, Colorado on February 5th, 2013. The previous day, Kelsie went to a doctor’s appointment near her home in Denver where she got her first ultrasound. After the appointment, she sent a picture of the ultrasound to her boyfriend/father of her child, Donthe Lucas.

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Donthe urged Kelsie to go visit him in Pueblo, which is two hours from where Kelsie's home. Kelsie left around 8:30 PM that night to make the drive to see Donthe and arrived at a Wal-Mart that they agreed to meet at around 11:00 PM. Kelsie texted Donthe to let him know that she had arrived. 

An hour later, Donthe had still not arrived, so she sent him another text saying she was tired of waiting and was going to head home if he did not show up soon. Minutes later, Donthe responded and requested that she meet him at a different location. Kelsie complied and drove to said location.

About half an hour later, Kelsie sent her final text message to Donthe: “Where are you? I’ve been here for over an hour just waiting”. She was never seen or heard from again after that. Her mother reported her missing after she was unable to get in contact with her the next day.

Once the Pueblo police began investigating, they came upon CCTV footage of Donthe driving Kelsie’s car at several different locations between February 5th and February 7th. Footage from a bank reveals that Donthe used Kelsie’s ATM card to withdraw $400 on the morning of February 5th.

Footage from St. Mary Crown Hospital in Pueblo shows Donthe parking Kelsie’s car in the hospital’s parking lot on February 7th. He then entered another vehicle, abandoning Kelsie’s car there. The police found the car on February 14th.

Detectives interviewed Donthe on February 15th, but he denied any knowledge of Kelsie’s whereabouts. He admitted to meeting up with Kelsie during the late evening on the 4th. He told police that he got into the driver’s seat of Kelsie’s car and drove them to several different locations. 

Donthe claimed that Kelsie was in the car with him when he drove to the ATM and that he had permission to withdraw money from her card. However, the footage does not show Kelsie inside the car. At the conclusion of the police interview, Donthe was charged with three counts of identity theft and theft of less than $500. Those charges were later dropped.

Donthe remained a person of interest in Kelsie’s disappearance, however the police did not bring any charges against him, and he continued to deny any involvement. Years passed without any movement in Kelsie’s case. Donthe remained a free man. That finally changed on November 15th, 2017, when Donthe was arrested for involvement in a robbery that had occurred two months earlier. Two weeks after that, on December 1st, police announced that Donthe had once again been arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of Kelsie.

In March 2021, was found guilty of the murder of Kelsie Schelling. In addition to the previously mentioned evidence, it was revealed during trial that Donthe's phone pinged near a landfill the night after Kelsie's disappearance. He also reportedly sent texts from Kelsie's phone, impersonating her, stating that she had a miscarriage. 

The jury only deliberated for a few hours before returning a guilty verdict. He was later sentenced to life in prison. Kelsie's body has still not been recovered. 

The Disappearance of Daniela 'Jasmin' Amaro

Daniela 'Jasmin' Amaro (29) has been missing since October 6th, 2017. Family members last saw Jasmin at her parent's house in Denver, Colorado. Jasmin left the house at some point that day and never returned. She has never been seen or heard from again.

The following day, Jasmin's car was found abandoned on the side of the road near the 215 Beltway in North Las Vegas, Nevada - an approximate 11-hour drive away from Denver. Once Jasmin was reported missing, investigators searched the surrounding areas near where the car was found. Unfortunately, no clues were found. 

Police departments in both Denver and North Las Vegas are investigating Jasmin's disappearance. Certain reports state that Jasmin is missing from Denver - despite the fact that her car was found in Vegas. Other reports state that she was actually spotted in wandering into the desert in Vegas shortly before her car was found abandoned. However, investigators were unable to locate Jasmin or any signs of her when they searched said area. 

There are very few details available about Jasmin's case, so it is unknown why Jasmin and her car ended up in Vegas - nearly 750 miles away from Denver. The link between Jasmin and Las Vegas is unknown. The tragic mass shooting during the Route 91 Harvest musical festival in Las Vegas occurred just five days before Jasmin's disappearance. 

On October 3rd, 2017, Jasmin shared a link to a fundraiser for the victims of the shooting. Her car was found abandoned in Vegas four days later. Due to all these details, it seems possible that Jasmin might have travelled to Vegas to help aide victims of the shooting - but none of this has been confirmed at this time. 

Jasmin's case remains unsolved. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please submit an anonymous tip here or here.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Las Vegas Review Journal
Uncovered