CENTENNIAL — More than once, Shelley Lowe told her son that Aaron Thompson “would get the death penalty” if he told police the truth about what happened to Thompson’s daughter, Aaroné.
That revelation came during testimony Tuesday in the trial of Thompson, who has been charged with child abuse resulting in death. Aaroné would have been 6 when Thompson reported her missing in November 2005.
Gail McKenzie was a foster parent for Lowe’s son who was 14 when Thompson said Aaroné ran away over a cookie. McKenzie testified that the boy told her several times that “Big A would get the death penalty” if he said what happened to Aaroné.
The boy made the statements after he and six other children living in a house on East Kepner Place in Aurora were visited by Thompson and Lowe while they were in foster care, McKenzie said.
Thompson faces 60 criminal counts, some for the alleged abuse of the other children in the home. The defense is expected to start presenting its case as early as today.
In other testimony, Jacqueline Ruybal, a case agent for the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, said that Lowe and Thompson got into arguments with their children during visits.
On Sept. 7, 2006, Thompson met with the children at the human-services department. According to Ruybal, Thompson and his son, who was 11 when Aaroné was reported missing, argued over a toy.
Thompson grabbed the boy and would not let go, Ruybal said. Another human-services department worker had to intervene, and they were able to free the boy.
Ruybal said she then overheard Thompson tell the boy: “Don’t think just because where you’re at, we can’t get to you.”
