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convicted

Man sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for murdering couple who responded to advertisement for used car

On January 4, Arapahoe County Judge Elizabeth Weishaupl sentenced Kyree Brown, 20, to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for murdering Joe and Jossline Roland in a botched robbery.

In August 2020, Brown used a false name to post a stolen vehicle for sale on the Letgo app, a sales platform similar to eBay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

The investigation revealed Joseph Roland corresponded with Brown over the app to buy a used Toyota RAV4 SUV for $3,000. Shortly after 11 p.m. on August 14, 2020, the Rolands met Brown in a shopping center parking lot. After noticing some issues with the title, Brown lured the Rolands to a second location on E. Cornell Circle in Aurora where he claimed the correct paperwork was located.

At the new location, Brown pulled out a gun and demanded the cash the Rolands had brought to purchase the car. During the robbery, Brown shot and killed the couple and fled with their money.

Brown later dumped the stolen car near the area of Havana Street and East Colfax Avenue where he set it on fire.

Investigators were able to solve this case by pulling computer records showing his email address was used to advertise the stolen vehicle online.

“The world lost an amazing couple and some of the best parents that I have ever known over some money and a scam,” Sammy Jo Boumadi-Heckerman, Jossline’s sister said. “A person that clearly didn’t care about what is right or what is wrong didn’t just steal money, he stole our family.”

The Rolands leave behind five children who were 17, 12, 10, 8 and 4 at the time of the murders.

“My parents were and always will be the two most giving, compassionate, helpful, kind and selfless people I’ve ever met,” Madison Roland, the couple’s oldest daughter said. “We will never get to experience anything as a family ever again.”

In addition to the two murders, Brown was convicted of aggravated robbery, aggravated motor vehicle theft, arson and bait advertising.

“This defendant’s greed left five children in an unimaginable position of having to grow up without their parents,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard said. “He deserves to spend every second of every year behind bars for what he did to Joe and Jossline Roland.”

Colorado law requires a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for Murder 1- a Class 1 felony.

“While no sentence will bring back these two loving parents, this life sentence ensures that the defendant will never have the ability to hurt another innocent person or family,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Jake Adkins said. “I hope the Roland family can find some peace and closure now that justice has been served.”

The investigation found that after Brown murdered the Rolands and set fire to the stolen car, he posted selfies with the money he stole from them. He also re-listed the advertisement for the same car he used to lure the Rolands.

“This couple didn’t deserve to die over a car and my heart aches for the children who have to grow up without both of their parents,” District Attorney John Kellner said. “This defendant robbed these children of a normal childhood and life in prison is the only appropriate sentence for this senseless crime.”

Parolee and former Scout leader with history of molesting children now convicted on child porn charges

On December 9, a jury convicted Floyd David Slusher, 69, of sexually exploiting children.

Slusher, a convicted child molester and former boy scout troop leader, was arrested earlier this year after an investigation conducted by members of the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force discovered he was posting and downloading child pornography.

Investigators were able to retrieve an IP address location where the pornographic materials were downloaded. The location took authorities to a home where Slusher, a registered sex offender was currently living. During a search warrant, Aurora police located Slusher’s computer and found multiple videos and movies showing young children performing sex acts on adults.

Slusher’s criminal history involving children dates back several decades. Between 1970-1972, Slusher was a Boy Scout member in Wiesbaden, Germany. During his time at this camp, Slusher was caught having sexual relations with juvenile males. Boy Scouts of America then sent Slusher back to the United States.

While living in Boulder, Slusher became a Boy Scout Troop Leader and started molesting more young boys. Slusher was convicted of these assaults and faced life behind bars. The Colorado Department of Corrections ultimately allowed him out on parole and in 1990, Slusher sexually assaulted another male juvenile and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He was also convicted of additional felonies for attempting to escape from custody and he was sentenced to an additional 8 years in prison.

In October 2020, Slusher was granted discretionary parole and he was placed on the Colorado sex offender registry. He was arrested in February 2022 on child pornography charges.

“This defendant has a history of sexually abusing children dating back more than 45 years, and it is deeply concerning that he was able to engage in this type of behavior while on parole for a similar offense,” Deputy District Attorney Jacob Kremin said. “Every time child sexual abuse material is viewed or distributed, the children depicted in those materials are re-victimized. There is simply no place for this conduct in our community, and our Office will continue to pursue convictions against those perpetuating the cycle of abuse against children.”

Slusher was convicted on the following charges:

Sexual Exploitation of a Child-Possession w/Intent to Distribute (Class 3 Felony)

Sexual Exploitation of a Child-Video Possession (Class 4 Felony)

Slusher also faces two sentence enhancers related to being a habitual sex offender. That trial is set to take place on March 20.

If the habitual sex offender sentence enhancers are proven, Slusher will face a mandatory minimum 36-year sentence.

“This defendant should have never been released from prison to victimize more children,” said District Attorney John Kellner. “Looking at his history, it’s shocking and disturbing that he was released from prison early – again. Once again, Colorado’s broken parole system favors dangerous criminals over public safety.”

Man convicted of killing Aurora couple who responded to online car advertisement

On August 31, a jury found Kyree Brown, 20, guilty of killing Joe and Jossline Roland after the couple responded to an online ad to purchase a car.

The investigation revealed Brown used a fake name to advertise a stolen vehicle for sale on an app called Letgo. On August 14, 2020, Joe Roland replied to the listing and agreed to meet to purchase the car.

Brown drove the stolen vehicle to Southlands Mall to meet with the Rolands. When Joe Roland noticed issues with the vehicle title, Brown pulled out a gun and demanded the couple hand over the cash they brought to purchase the car. Brown then proceeded to shoot five times, killing both Joe and Jossline Roland.

“This defendant assumed a fake identity to lure this innocent couple into his snare, pretending to be someone he wasn’t and to sell a car he didn’t own,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard said. “He callously ended two innocent lives for a few thousand dollars and his selfish actions created an unjustifiable risk to the community and displayed no regard for the value of human life.”

Brown made off with approximately $3,000, fled the scene and dumped the stolen car near the area of Havana Street and East Colfax Avenue where he set it on fire.

Investigators were able to solve this case by pulling computer records showing Brown’s email address was used to list the stolen vehicle online.

The Rolands leave behind five children, all under the age of 19.

A jury convicted Brown on the following counts:

Second-Degree Murder (2 counts)
First-Degree Murder-Felony Murder (2 counts)
Aggravated Robbery (2 counts)
Second-Degree Arson
Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft (3 counts)
Felony Theft
Bait Advertising

Brown will be sentenced on Nov. 21

“This cowardly act of violence leaves five children without their parents,” District Attorney John Kellner said. “I think about the back-to-school nights without their parents. The bedtime stories never read. Words just can’t describe what this killer took away. He deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars.”

Aurora man convicted of killing ex-girlfriend and dumping body at abandoned truck stop along I-25

On August 3, a jury found Andrew Joseph Condon, 29, guilty of second-degree murder for killing his ex-girlfriend, LeBrea Jackson back in 2018.

Two days before Christmas, someone used Jackson’s phone to text her mother to say she was on her way to pick up Condon, her then-boyfriend. The couple was supposed to arrive at her parents’ home in Westcliffe, CO later that evening, but they never showed up.

Jackson’s body was later found inside a storage container at an abandoned truck stop near Exit 34 on I-25 in Las Animas County—about 3 hours south of Denver.

The investigation revealed Condon strangled Jackson sometime between Dec. 21, 2018 and Dec. 23, 2018—approximately two weeks before her body was discovered. Cellular telephone data retrieved by investigators showed on Dec. 23, 2018, Jackson’s phone pinged off a tower in close proximity to where her body was found. Her phone then pinged off towers in Texas where police pulled Condon over twice for traffic infractions, but there was no sign of Jackson in the car.

Timeline of events:

December 23, 2018: Jackson’s phone is used to send her mother a text message (this is the last correspondence her mother reports receiving from her daughter’s phone).

December 24, 2018: After Jackson failed to show up to her parents’ home, her mother called her apartment complex to check on her daughter. A property manager opened the apartment and found there weren’t a lot of personal items inside. On this day, Condon was stopped by Texas State Troopers while driving Jackson’s car and he was issued a citation for drug paraphernalia. Later in the day, Condon was stopped by the Alvarado Police Department in Texas. Condon provided officers with a stolen Colorado ID and he was taken into custody on multiple felony warrants out of Colorado—unrelated to Jackson’s murder. At the time Condon was arrested, officers found Jackson’s cell phone on him. Her debit card was also being used in Texas, despite her mother not hearing from her.

December 26, 2018: Jackson’s mother calls the Aurora Police Department to officially report her daughter missing.

January 6, 2018: Around 3:30 p.m., a man pulled into the abandoned truck stop on I-25 and noticed a red plastic storage container with a human body inside. The man immediately called police and the Las Animas County Coroner positively identified the body as Jackson’s.

“This was a horrific act of domestic violence that robbed two children of their mother, parents of their daughter and a community of a beloved member,” Chief Deputy DA Andrew Steers said. “This verdict is the first step towards justice.”

Charges:

Second-degree murder (guilty)

Tampering with a deceased body (guilty)

Motor vehicle theft (guilty)

Violent crime resulting in death (Sentence Enhancer)

Burglary 1 (guilty)

Assault/strangulation (guilty)

Felony menacing (guilty)

The trial lasted 5 days, followed by two and half days of deliberation.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Court records indicate Condon had a history of domestic violence incidents involving Jackson.

“This was a brutal and callous act of domestic violence that deserves a lengthy prison sentence,” District Attorney John Kellner said. “For anyone struggling with domestic violence, please reach out for help. We’re here for you.”

Available resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Gateway Domestic Violence Services: 303-343-1851