A man found dead at the Crestwood Suites Hotel Friday night has been identified as 51-year-old Michael Pinkus – the owner of a home that was burglarized the same evening, the Aurora Police Department said today.
Aurora police spokeswoman Shannon Lucy said that Pinkus owned a home in the 14200 block of East Baltic Circle where a home invasion burglary occurred at 9:45 p.m. – about an hour before Pinkus’ body was found at the Crestwood Suites.
The victims of the burglary told officers that two men entered the home through an unlocked front door and stole various items before fleeing on foot.
Lucy said that Pinkus was not in the home when it was robbed and was not killed there.
Approximately 45 minutes after the burglary, officers saw a man in the parking lot of the Crestwood Suites, 14090 E. Evans Ave., who matched the description of one of the burglary suspects. He was arrested.
Steven Wayne Bassett, 27, is being held for investigation of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, second-degree burglary and aggravated robbery.
When they checked his room at the hotel, they found Pinkus’ body with trauma to his upper body.
Lucy said Pinkus had gone to the hotel “on his own volition” and knew people staying there.
Lucy declined to say whether Pinkus knew Bassett, a registered sex offender.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Robert Wilson at 303-739-6106.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
