Colorado Springs man held in mother’s stabbing death
Colorado Springs – A man accused of fatally stabbing his mother in her upscale home over the weekend allegedly confessed before changing his story, blaming the thoughts on a bad dream.
Nathan DeGeare, 27, was being held without bail Monday on suspicion of first-degree murder in the death of 60-year-old Mary “Gwen” DeGeare, a former Opera Guild president. He had been living with his mother for about year before his arrest Sunday, a day after police found her stabbed several times in her bedroom.
She had bled to death from the wounds in her back and chest, the El Paso County coroner’s office reported Monday.
A psychologist called 911 Friday after DeGeare said he needed help. Paramedics who responded found DeGeare with cuts on his wrists and took him to a hospital for a mental evaluation, but emergency workers didn’t search the home, court documents said.
The psychologist called police again Saturday after Gwen DeGeare failed to return several phone messages.
Police later found her body in a bed and a “large butcher-type knife” in a bathtub full of water.
DeGeare told staff at Penrose-St. Francis Hospital that he thought about stabbing his mother but later blamed the thoughts on “a bad dream,” according to court documents. He told his father the same story and, on Saturday, said he was upset his mother wouldn’t give him his independence, according to police.
Council gives final OK to police-monitor hire
The Denver City Council on Monday gave unanimous, final approval to the hiring of Richard Rosenthal as the city’s first police monitor.
Rosenthal and a small staff will track and critique internal police investigations and recommend policy changes to the mayor and council.
Rosenthal, the monitor in Portland, Ore., since 2002, intends to move to Denver, hire key staffers and open his office by July 1.
Specifically, Rosenthal is seeking to hire an experienced lawyer as senior deputy monitor, an entry-level lawyer as deputy monitor and a community-relations specialist as ombudsman.
Also Monday, the council unanimously approved a three-year labor contract between the city and the International Brotherhood of Firefighters Local 858, which represents the city’s 900 firefighters. The contract provides the firefighters a 2 percent raise next year, 3 percent in 2007 and 4 percent in 2008.
2nd hit-run suspect still sought by police
Aurora police are continuing to look for the driver of a white Chevrolet truck they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and- run in the 3200 block of South Parker Road on Friday night.
Police say 18-year-old Alicia Larson was killed after being hit by two vehicles while she crossed the street.
Police arrested the driver of the vehicle suspected of first hitting Larson but are searching for the driver of the second vehicle.
Shannon Obel, 25, allegedly drove away after hitting Larson, but she returned and now faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death.
Police are awaiting a toxicology screen on Obel and the coroner’s report on Larson, which could affect further charges against Obel.
Police are asking anyone with information about the case to call Detective Mike Benson at 303-739-6994.
Body of man found at Copper resort housing
The body of a 25-year-old man believed to have been dead for at least a week was discovered Monday afternoon in Copper Mountain Resort Housing, the coroner’s office reported.
Authorities said they found a syringe and a substance that tested positive for heroin at the scene.
The body of the victim, who was not identified pending notification of family, was taken to Jefferson County for further tests, the coroner said.
CU to monitor labor involved in its apparel
The University of Colorado agreed to join an organization that will monitor whether its apparel is made in sweatshops after a protest last week by students at the chancellor’s office.
A half-dozen students occupied the office Thursday, and, according to a news release, 40 supporters joined in a hunger strike.
CU officials said they will join the Worker Rights Consortium to make sure the school’s clothing is made under humane conditions.
Golden High alumnus gets post at Interior
President Bush has chosen R. Thomas Weimer, who was raised in Colorado, to serve as assistant interior secretary for policy, management and budget.
Weimer, who graduated from Golden Senior High School in 1967, is acting assistant secretary for water and science.
Weimer, who has 18 years of federal service, previously served at Interior as chief of staff to Secretary Manuel Lujan Jr.
Officials say owlet survived West Nile
A bird found in south Weld County has tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment.
The great horned owl nestling was picked up north of Firestone on April 8. The bird appeared healthy and survived the infection.
“The risk of contracting West Nile virus for humans is very low at this time,” said Mark Wallace, executive director of the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment. “However, this is a reminder that West Nile virus is here and everyone should remember to wear mosquito repellent, long sleeves and long pants to protect themselves from mosquito bites when they are outside.”
Drilling compromise skirts nuke-test site
Garfield County is considering a compromise that would allow a gas well to be drilled near the site of an underground nuclear explosion detonated in 1969.
The compromise would allow drilling within a half-mile buffer zone established around the Project Rulison site. Only the surface area could be disturbed inside the zone, and the well bottom would be outside the zone.
The county is waiting for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s response to the compromise proposal.
