GREELEY — A Weld County district judge today ruled that one of the teens allegedly responsible for the beating death of 7-year-old Zoe Garcia will stand trial.
Judge Marcelo Kopcow said there was enough evidence presented at the preliminary hearing linking Lamar Roberts to Zoe’s on Dec. 6, 2007 death in Johnstown. Roberts was originally charged with child abuse resulting in death of Zoe.
Kopcow ruled today that Roberts will also face a second charge of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, relating to the girl’s broken wrist.
Johnstown Police Detective Kathy Halldorson testified that Roberts, then 17, told family members Zoe was wrestling with her sibling — 17-year-old Heather Trujillo — on the night of Zoe’s death. But, Halldorson said, Roberts then began striking Zoe.
Zoe told him to stop, but Roberts said he was too drunk to quit hitting, Halldorson said.
Earlier in the evening, Roberts and Trujillo had been watching a video game that police later identified as “Mortal Kombat.”
Roberts later told friends his hands were “registered lethal weapons,” Halldorson said.
Zoe died of blunt forced trauma to the head, according to Dr. John Carver, who performed the autopsy.
Trujillo earlier this month pleaded guilty to child abuse negligently causing death. She was sentenced to 18 years in prison, which will be suspended if she successfully completes six years in the state’s youth offender program.
Trujillo also agreed to testify against Roberts, who was using her as a “scapegoat” in Zoe’s death, Halldorson said.
Roberts is scheduled to be back in court Aug. 15, where a trial date may be set or a disposition in the case could be announced.
