Left inset: Lisa West (Manchester Funeral Home). Right inset: Kevin Wells (Colorado Springs Police Department). Background: Colorado police at the apartment complex where Lisa West was murdered by Kevin Wells (KXRM/YouTube).
A Colorado jury has convicted a man of murdering his girlfriend and attempting to cover up the killing by reporting a nonexistent break-in.
Lisa West, 34, sent a friend a text message on the day she was killed, writing, “I wish I could leave, but I literally have nowhere to go and no money.” Later that day, her boyfriend, Kevin Wells, shot her in the head inside the Mountain Shadows Apartments on Fontmore Road in Colorado Springs, testimony showed, according to The Gazette.
Wells, who was 36 when the shooting occurred, was found guilty of murder Friday by an El Paso County jury, Colorado CBS affiliate KKTV reported. Court records indicate that his trial began the previous week.
Evidence presented at Wells’ preliminary hearing described how he called 911 and claimed that someone was attempting to enter his apartment. Wells told the dispatcher he was away from the residence, but said West was inside.
Responding officers found West dead from a single gunshot wound between her eyes. Investigators and prosecutors said the couple had a history of domestic violence and that West had been trying to leave Wells because of his abusive behavior.
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Wells placed the emergency call at approximately 11:35 a.m., KKTV reported. About half an hour later, his father contacted police and allegedly said Wells had admitted killing West.
According to court documents obtained by Fox affiliate KXRM, Wells told his father he had “screwed up” and that “my life is over.” Wells’ employer also called 911, telling authorities that Wells had confessed to the shooting in a text message.
During interviews with Wells’ parents, his father said Wells claimed West had “hit” him and threatened to bring “guys” to the apartment. Wells allegedly said he ordered West to leave and shot her after she refused.
Wells is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 20.
The post Colorado man convicted of shooting girlfriend in the head and staging a fake break-in first appeared on Law & Crime.
