A 72-year-old man was sentenced Friday to life without parole for the murder of his ex-wife last year at her office in Westminster.
The nvestigators said Richard Stewart went to his ex-wife’s place of work — an Edward Jones Financial office — and shot her once in the head.
Norma Dee Stewart, 71, is believed to have activated a panic alarm in the office. When police arrived, they found her dead in the doorway.
Stewart disappeared after the shooting, but a state just a few days later when he was swerving in traffic.
Stewart failed to remain conscious when confronted by the warden, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was guarded for a few days before he was returned to Colorado to face charges.
On Thursday, a jury deliberated for one hour before finding Stewart guilty of first-degree murder.
According to court records, Richard Stewart had been arrested for domestic violence in April 2008, about one week before his wife of 45 years filed for divorce.
that Stewart had been threatening Norma and her family since she filed for divorce.
A few days before the murder, Stewart wrote a letter to his sisters in which he wrote, “My waiting is over. It is time to make her go away for good.”
“This case illustrates how domestic violence occurs among all ages and can escalate into homicides, even after the relationships have ended,” said 17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick in a statement released Friday. “We need to remain vigilant to intervene early and consistently.”
