Golden – Keason Cox was angry about a drug deal gone bad when he shot and killed his girlfriend and her friend in 2004, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Cox, 35, is accused of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Tiffany McConnell, 30, of Lakewood and Edwina Moore, 54, of Northglenn.
In opening arguments, Assistant District Attorney Sean Clifford portrayed Cox as a cocaine dealer who gave McConnell $50,000 to buy cocaine.
Cox, 35, never received the cocaine nor his money, Clifford said, which made him angry with McConnell.
In searching the Lakewood home they shared, Cox found a bank statement for an account in McConnell’s name that contained about $45,000.
Clifford said McConnell received the money as part of a 2003 settlement with Denver. She was one of three women sexually assaulted in 1998 by police officer Daniel Pollack, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The defense reserved an opening statement for later in what is expected to be a two-week trial.
Clifford said Cox got McConnell to come to their home, held a .38-caliber handgun 2 feet from McConnell’s head and pulled the trigger.
Cox also killed Moore, the only witness, after chasing her to the basement, Clifford said. Cox carried Moore upstairs, where he placed her in a chair near McConnell’s body, and shot her again.
“He made it appear it was self-defense,” Clifford said.
The torn bank statement was found on the couch next to McConnell’s body.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
