Athina Munoz: Texting, Drinking, Toking in Double-Fatal Crash, Past MMJ Shooting

Brian and Jacquie Lehner loved riding together on their Harley.

That's exactly what they were doing this past weekend when they were struck by a car and killed.

Athina Munoz, 27, was subsequently booked on a variety of charges in relation to the crash.

Now, a report suggests that she was texting at the time of the accident, and an arrest warrant quotes her as admitting that she'd been drinking before she took the wheel, and had smoked marijuana hours earlier.

Another incident from Munoz's past has surfaced as well. In 2011, as we reported at the time, Munoz killed two men, Jovan Rivers and Harrell King, in what was originally characterized as a medical marijuana burglary. However, she wasn't charged with a crime because her actions were protected under Colorado's Make My Day law.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, the latest incident took place at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, near the intersection of Colorado 83 and North Russellville Road, just over a mile south of Franktown.

Here's an interactive graphic of the area. If you have problems seeing the image, click "View on Google Maps."



The CSP notes that a 1997 green Honda Accord was traveling south on Colorado 83 when it crossed over the painted median into the northbound lane.

There, the car struck two motorcycles: a 2016 gray Harley Davidson and a 2014 maroon Harley.

The former was ridden by 28-year-old Joseph Bartoletti of Colorado Springs. He received minor injuries.

On the latter were Brian and Jacquie Lehner, seen here in a Facebook photo:

Both Brian and Jacquie were ejected from the motorcycle.

Neither wore a helmet. They died at the scene.

Munoz received serious injuries as well.

But after being treated, she was booked into Douglas County Jail.

The CSP list of charges against her (including their felony or misdemeanor designations) reads as follows:

• Vehicular Homicide — While Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol x2 (F3)

• Vehicular Homicide — Operated a Motor Vehicle in a Reckless Manner x2 (F4)

• 3rd Degree Assault (M1)

• Drove Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs or Both (M)

• DUI Per Se (M)

• Failed to Present Evidence of Insurance Upon Request (MT1)

The state patrol adds that Colorado 83 was closed from Russellville to Lake Gulch for three hours in order to complete the investigation.


An arrest document obtained by 7News presents more details about Munoz's actions on that day. 

She's said to have told a trooper on the scene that she glanced down at a text message as she traveled on Colorado 83, and when she looked up again, she'd crossed the center line, with the motorcycles directly in her path.

Also cited in the report: her alleged acknowledgment that she'd consumed two glasses of wine before getting into the car and smoked some marijuana that morning.

Inside the vehicle, investigators found "two empty alcohol bottles, a glass marijuana pipe and raw marijuana."


The latter discovery brings us to the 2011 case.

At 3 p.m. on March 31, officers with the Aurora Police Department responded to a report of a multiple shooting at a condominium on the 900 block of South Dearborn Way.

Upon their arrival, they found four victims. Two men, later ID'd as Rivers and King, were dead, while a couple — Munoz and a male — were suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to a local hospital. A toddler was also inside the condo at the time of the shooting but wasn't hurt.

The APD report noted: "Early indications are that the two males came to the location because they believed that the resident was a medical marijuana provider."

The cops later determined that Munoz's grow was illegal, since Aurora had a ban against medical marijuana businesses at the time. However, her killing of Rivers and King with an assault-style rifle was deemed justified.

That's not the case when it comes to the Lehners, whose funeral service is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 4, at the Ave Maria Catholic Church in Parker; click here for more information. We send our sincere condolences to their friends, family and loved ones.

Look below to see Munoz's booking photo.