Background: The AdventHealth hospital in Parker, Colorado, where the victim was taken (Google Maps). Inset: Daniel Fougner (Colorado’s 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office).
A man in Colorado violently attacked his 80-year-old landlord after being asked to return a loan, then attempted to conceal the crime using a garden hose.
An Elbert County jury on Friday found Daniel Fougner, 65, guilty of felony assault on an at-risk person and felony tampering with physical evidence, as reported by Colorado’s 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office in a press release. The incident dates back to October 2024, happening outside a house in Parker, roughly 25 miles southeast of Denver.
Fougner was “temporarily staying” at the victim’s home, who was 15 years older than Fougner. A “dispute over money Fougner owed” escalated between the two men outside the home, leading to the described violence.
The now-convicted individual reportedly picked up a two-by-four piece of wood and “struck the landlord twice in the head.” These blows “resulted in a subdural hematoma — a brain bleed that posed a significant risk of death,” according to the district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors explained that Fougner was aware of his wrongdoing since “after the assault, he used a garden hose to clean the victim’s blood off the driveway before leaving the location.” He was later captured in Castle Rock, located about 13 miles south of Parker.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Eva Wilson expressed dismay over the convicted man’s actions — perpetrated against someone apparently just trying to help.
The victim “is an 80-year-old man who opened his home and heart to someone who was down on his luck,” Wilson said in the release. “When he simply asked to be repaid, he was met with brutal violence. This verdict assures accountability on a man who preyed on the kindness of another.”
The landlord was brought to the AdventHealth Hospital in Parker and admitted to the intensive care unit. He is expected to recover, the DA’s office said.
“This was a vicious and deliberate attack on an elderly man who could have easily died from his injuries,” added Deputy District Attorney Joe Ratner. “After beating [the victim], the defendant tried to wash away the evidence and flee. The jury saw through that and delivered justice.”
Fougner is set to be sentenced on Dec. 1. He faces between 16 and 48 years in prison, meaning he will likely be older than the victim is now when he finishes his sentence.
District Attorney George Brauchler was harsh in his judgment of Fougner’s actions — as well as what they apparently reveal about society at large.
“When people ask, ‘why have people stopped offering to help those in need?’ look no further than Fougner,” Brauchler said. “Attacking your 80-year-old generous landlord with a 2X4 is a sure signal to society that you don’t belong here.”
“Fougner is going to prison at 65,” the district attorney added. “He knew better and now he will know worse.”
