A 52-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of killing his 49-year-old girlfriend in Lakewood on New Year’s Day during an alcohol-fueled argument.
Stephen D. DeRossett is suspected of fatally stabbing Keli Jackson at the couple’s home at 2535 South Cody Way around 11:19 a.m. Wednesday, according to Lakewood Police Department arrest affidavit.
DeRossett called 911 and reported that Jackson had come at him with a knife, and that he’d taken the knife away and restrained her. He told dispatchers his girlfriend of seven months had started “acting weird” after taking shots and began trying to punch him, according to the affidavit.
When police arrived, DeRossett, who was covered in blood and smelled of alcohol, surrendered and was taken into custody. Officers found Jackson unresponsive inside the home; she’d been stabbed multiple times and died at 11:54 a.m., the affidavit said.
Police also found a folded, bloody pocket knife at the scene; it had DeRossettap name engraved on the blade, according to the affidavit.
DeRossett later told investigators that Jackson had been drinking, got upset and walked up to him while holding his own pocket knife, although he said the blade was closed. He said Jackson hit him in the face and neck and he defended himself. He said he did not know what happened after Jackson came at him, only that he “noticed she had blood all over and decided to call the police,” according to the affidavit, which says DeRossett said he “was not going to let her die on his watch.”
DeRossett was booked into the Jefferson County Detention Center and appeared in court Thursday. He is being held without bond.
