A teen being held for suspicion of murder in the death of his 13-year-old girlfriend could be formally charged with murder by the end of the week.
A shackled Alexander “Alex” Pacheco, 18, made his first appearance in court Monday with his head bowed, thick black hair hanging over his forehead.
The slender teen’s eyes remained downcast throughout the short hearing. He made no sign to his parents, nor to the family of Kelsey Shannon, the girl he is suspected of killing, all of whom were in the courtroom.
“When I found out he was in jail, I broke into tears,” said a woman who identified herself to reporters as a friend of Pacheco’s and who gave her name as Sierra.
Sierra said she thinks Pacheco is wrongly accused because he was dating an underage girl.
“He’s not a violent person,” she said.
Assistant District Attorney Cynthia J. Kowert told the judge that she expects to formally charge Pacheco with first-degree murder at a hearing Friday.
Kelsey’s decomposed body was found last week behind a screen of cattails in a drainage ditch less than a mile from her home.
She disappeared Oct. 14 after arguing with her parents over her choice of companions.
Police arrested Pacheco early Saturday at his Lakewood home. They haven’t said what led them to Pacheco, and arrest and search warrant affidavits that could shed some light on the evidence in the case remain sealed at the request of prosecutors and Pacheco’s public defender.
Megan Ring, a deputy state public defender, said she hadn’t had a chance to read the documents.
Kowert told Judge John Pokovich that she wants the papers opened only to Pacheco’s attorney. The documents should be sealed because the case is still under investigation, she told a reporter.
Pacheco’s parents sat in the front row of the Broomfield County courtroom behind the table where their son stared into his lap. Kelsey’s parents and other family members and friends filled several rows on the other side of the courtroom.
Pacheco is being held without bail in the Broomfield jail.
Tom McGhee: (303)954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
