A man in Greeley was sentenced Friday to life without parole after a Weld County jury found him guilty of murdering his girlfriend’s ex-husband.
Cecil Joe Erb, 28, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2009 slaying, according a release from Weld County District Court. He also was convicted of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and illegal discharge of a firearm.
On Feb. 19 of last year, police responded to a call of possible shots fired in the 600 block of 46th Avenue Court.
Police found Jeffrey Watson Sr. in a car parked in front of his home with numerous gunshot wounds. He was taken to North Colorado Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Officers discovered during the investigation that Erb was in a relationship with Watson’s ex-wife and that Watson had a $100,000 life-insurance policy, with the former wife as the beneficiary.
Erb was tracked using cellphone technology and was arrested shortly afterward in Iowa.
During the trial, prosecutors said Erb plotted for as long as a year to kill Watson. They believe Erb ambushed Watson as he sat in his car preparing to leave for work.
Authorities testified 29 bullets were fired into Watson’s vehicle.
Erb claimed Watson took a shot at him earlier that morning.
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1638 or yrobles@denverpost.com
