Police issue photo of 2nd suspect in 2004 homicide
Aurora police released a mug shot of a suspect in a July 4, 2004, shooting that killed an Aurora man after a holiday party at Lowry Park.
Authorities last week issued an arrest warrant on first-degree murder for Sir Mario Owens, 20, in the death of Gregory Vann and two counts of first-degree assault in the shootings of Elvin Bell and Javad Marshall-Fields.
Owens is the second person charged in Vann’s homicide. Robert Keth Ray, 20, is in Arapahoe County jail on first-degree murder charges in that case. Authorities also believe the shooting may be connected to the double homicide June 20 that killed Marshall-Fields, who was a key witness against Ray. Also killed in that shooting was Vivian Wolfe. No arrests have been made in the June 20 shooting.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Owens should contact Detective Gretchen Fronapfel at 303-739-6013.
AURORA
Police identify man found dead in trunk
Aurora police on Wednesday identified the man whose remains were found inside the trunk of a burning vehicle on Sept. 25 as Alfonso Bernal, 34.
Police wouldn’t reveal any more information about the case, which is still under investigation. They also wouldn’t say whether Bernal burned to death or was killed beforehand.
Bernal’s body was found at 5:19 a.m. on Sept. 25 when an off-duty police officer heading to work reported seeing a burning vehicle on the side of South Aurora Parkway, about a mile north of East Smoky Hill Road.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Yacano at 303-739-6090.
DENVER
Metro State registers increase in students
Metropolitan State College of Denver has seen a 1.5 percent increase in enrollment, making it the school with the second-largest number of undergraduate students in the state, school officials said Wednesday.
The school also saw a 3.5 percent increase in minority student enrollment and a 29 percent increase in transfer students from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
The 29 percent increase, however, is only 25 students, and school officials are trying to determine if the increase is a result of this year’s tuition increase at CU or a one-time jump in numbers.
MONTROSE
Hearing delayed in murder trial of two
A preliminary hearing for two Montrose men accused of killing an openly gay man in a Montrose park July 30 has been delayed until next month.
Adam Hernandez, 21, and Jason Todd Fiske, 24, had been scheduled to appear in Montrose District Court today, but that hearing was continued until Nov. 9 at the request of the Montrose Public Defenders Office.
Fiske and Hernandez face first-degree murder charges for allegedly killing Kevin Hale after the three had been in a Montrose bar. Hale’s body was found in a nearby park the next morning. An autopsy showed he had been strangled.
DENVER
Felon gets 15 years for possessing a firearm
A 52-year-old Denver man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison on a charge of being a convicted felon and possessing a firearm. Authorities arrested Gerry M. Denormandie earlier this year as he was stalking a prostitute.
On May 29, a Denver police officer saw a woman known to be a prostitute and Denormandie struggling on East Colfax, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The officer found a sawed-off shotgun in the man’s sport utility vehicle as well as binoculars, a box of shotgun shells, numerous pairs of flex-cuffs and a camera.
Denormandie’s criminal record includes convictions for sexual assault and kidnapping.
DENVER
Federation of Blind celebrates 50th year
Celebrating 50 years of providing services to the blind, The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado will hold its annual convention Friday and Saturday at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Denver.
The federation estimates that more than 13,000 people have vision disabilities in Colorado, with nearly 2,500 of the blind being children.
A workshop will be held on Friday highlighting new technologies for the blind, such as Braille and screen readers, and employers will be available to offer advice on how blind people can find job opportunities.
Also on Friday, Carol Castellano, author and mother of a blind child, will deliver a motivational speech on behalf of the Colorado Parents of Blind Children.
For more information about the convention call Kevan Worley at 303-929-2369.
BILLINGS, Mont.
Heavy snow cuts power to thousands
Thousands of homes in eastern Montana and portions of North Dakota, including many in and around Billings, remained without power Wednesday after a slow-moving storm dumped large amounts of heavy, wet snow across the region.
The snowfall caused trees to snap or sag into power lines, sparking the widespread outages, officials said. Blackouts also were reported in parts of northern Wyoming and in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Between 10 and 18 inches of snow fell in in northern Campbell County in extreme northeast Wyoming. Sheridan, Wyo., recorded 4.2 inches. As much as 11 inches of snow had fallen in southeastern Montana by early Wednesday. Billings had received 10.8 inches and set a record for snowfall Tuesday with 9.9 inches, National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Humphrey said.
