A burglary and car-theft fugitive who is also a person of interest in a 1993 Valentine’s Day murder was arrested Friday afternoon in Greeley, officials say.
James “Sam” England, 37, was sought in connection with the shooting death of William “Billy” Trimbach, whose body was found in Morgan County in 1993, said Morgan County Sheriff Jim Crone.
Greeley police arrested England for investigation of car theft. He is also wanted on felony and misdemeanor warrants from Morgan and Alamosa counties that include the theft of two shotguns, Crone said.
Authorities will meet Monday to decide which jurisdiction has priority in pursuing charges against the armed fugitive who had vowed not to be taken alive.
England surrendered peacefully, however, when Greeley investigators tracked him to a Greeley home, where he had been living under an alias with a female accomplice.
England has numerous arrests for assault, burglary, auto theft and weapons offenses and has served prison sentences in Colorado for drug dealing and violating parole, Crone said.
The sheriff said several people said England has told them he was involved in Trimbach’s murder. Other witnesses said they would give statements after the reputed drug dealer was behind bars, Crone said.
“He’s built his reputation on intimidation,” he said.
Trimbach’s body was found Feb. 14, 1993, on the north side of the Interstate 76 frontage road west of Wiggins.
He had been shot to death and his body was taken by car to the side of the highway and dumped.
Crone said Trimbach’s wife, Cindy, who has since died, was a suspect from the beginning. Trimbach was killed on the couple’s one-year wedding anniversary.
One theory is that Cindy Trimbach hired two men to kill her husband to cash in on a large life-insurance policy, Crone said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
