Greeley – Larimer County prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against a woman accused of killing her alleged lover’s wife.
Shawna Nelson, 35, is scheduled to stand trial on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Heather Garraus, 37, who was married to Greeley police Officer Ignacio Garraus.
Nelson and Ignacio Garraus had an affair, and Nelson gave birth to their child, authorities said. When Ignacio Garraus tried to break off the relationship, it so angered Nelson that she shot and killed Heather Garraus on Jan. 23, prosecutors argue.
Nelson was married to a former Weld County sheriff’s investigator, Ken Nelson.
Linda Jensen, a spokeswoman with the district attorney’s office, said Tuesday, “We are not seeking the death penalty in this case.”
Jensen declined comment on how the office of District Attorney Larry Abrahamson came to the decision. Nelson is being held without bail.
Additional local news briefs:
WESTMINSTER
Teen dies after car hit tractor-trailer truck
A 17-year-old Standley Lake High School student was killed Tuesday morning when the vehicle she was driving ran into the back of a tractor-trailer truck, police said.
The tractor-trailer was stopped at a red light in the right through lane when Carissa Lynn Thompson’s car ran into it, authorities said.
The incident happened just after 8 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of West 120th Avenue and Bradburn Boulevard in Westminster.
Thompson was taken to St. Anthony Central Hospital, where she died from her injuries.
The teenager was the only person inside the 1999 four-door Hyundai sedan. She was not wearing her seat belt, authorities said. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash.
Investigators are looking at the possibility that sun glare or a distraction inside Thompson’s car contributed to the crash.
BOULDER
Missing woman may have just walked off
A developmentally disabled Boulder woman has been missing since 8 p.m. Monday.
Boulder police have been looking for Jennifer Wells, 21, who is about 5-foot-3 and 225 pounds. She has shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes and wears wire-frame glasses.
Wells walked away from her home in the 600 block of South 44th Street. She was last seen wearing gray sweat pants and a white tank top.
She has taken the bus to Longmont and Denver in the past and may approach people with small children, police said.
AURORA
Rescued dogs will be offered for adoption
Dozens of dogs from seven metro-area animal rescue groups will be up for adoption this weekend in Aurora.
Canine Campus of Aurora/DIA is hosting the dog adoption fair, which will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Sunday at 332 Norfolk St. in Aurora.
Dogs seeking owners range from golden retrievers and Great Danes to spaniels, cattle dogs and many mixed breeds.
Canine Campus of Aurora/ DIA is donating free day care and boarding visits to all dogs that leave the fair with a new family.
For more information, take a look at the website for Canine Campus of Aurora/DIA, which is at CanineCampus.us/dia/.
LONGMONT
Man bonds out of jail in explosives case
A Longmont man arrested on suspicion of possessing 400 different types of chemicals and compounds used to make explosives bonded out of jail Tuesday.
Ronald Swerlein, 50, left the Boulder County Jail after posting a $50,000 bond. Swerlein was arrested early Sunday as police continued a three-day search of his home. Police said they found several dangerous explosives, as well as guns, ammunition and books about making explosives.
Investigators, however, have not connected Swerlein to any plot to cause injury or damage, and the out-of-work electrical engineer told police that the explosives were part of a hobby and a fascination with model rockets. Officials pulled the home’s occupancy permit during the search, and Swerlein and his wife had been staying at a motel. He is scheduled to be charged Friday.
DENVER
Boy, 15, to be tried as adult in fatal stabbing
Prosecutors are charging a 15- year-old boy as an adult in connection with the May stabbing death of 20-year-old Juan Lera- Gonzales in Denver, District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said on Tuesday.
Elias Ramirez will be charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault, Morrissey said.
The charges allege that the two were involved in an argument in May in a parking lot in the 1100 block of South Quivas Street when Ramirez stabbed Lera-Gonzales. Ramirez was identified as the suspect by police detectives, and he surrendered on May 30.
He was originally charged as a juvenile with first-degree murder, but further review led to re-filing the case and charging Ramirez as an adult, Morrissey said.
Ramirez remains in custody in the Denver County Jail on $50,000 bail.
