Audio By Carbonatix
At around the same time the Denver Police Department released the list of its 25 most violent fugitives, the coroner’s office for the city issued its report about homicides in the first quarter, which totaled eight. The number is the same as during the first three months of 2010 — but that’s cold comfort to the family and loved ones of victims ranging from Quentin Smith to Cherise Houston.
Page down below to see synopses of the coroner’s report on each incident — and click on the name to see Westword‘s original coverage. Also check out interactive graphics showing the area near the scenes; if you have problems seeing the image, click “View Larger Map.”
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1. Quentin Smith Time and date of death: 1:16 a.m. January 22, 2011 Male, black, 21 Cause of death: Multiple gunshot wounds Location: 36th Avenue and Pontiac Street, Denver
2. Marvin Smith Time and date of death: 5:47 p.m. January 22, 2011 Male, black, 33 Cause of death: Gunshot wound to the abdomen Location: 605 West 26th Street #206, Denver
3. Susan Wiggs Time and date of death: 8:21 p.m. January 25, 2011 Female, white, 58 Cause of death: Gunshot wound of the head Location: 936 Sheridan Boulevard, Denver
4. George Valenzuela-Lopez Time and date of death: 2:56 a.m. February 9, 2011 Male, Hispanic, 34 Cause of death: Complications of multiple gunshot wounds Location: 214 South Federal Boulevard, Denver
5. Ronald Ford Time and date of death: 2 p.m. February 11, 2011 Male, white, 63 Cause of death: Blunt force trauma to the head Location: 122 Stuart Street, Denver
6. Jacob Lauver Time and date of death: 4:18 a.m. March 12, 2011 Male, white, 21 Cause of death: Multiple gunshot wounds to head and chest Location: 2850 West Vassar Street, Denver
7. Amara Sayon Time and date of death: 11:31 p.m. March 23, 2011 Male, mixed, 22 Cause of death: Gunshot wound to chest Location: 900 South Quince Street #D523, Denver
8. Cherise Houston Time and date of death: 11:30 p.m. March 23, 2011 Female, black, 24 Cause of death: Gunshot wound of head Location: 900 South Quince Street, Denver
More from our Mile High Murder archive: “Homicides in Denver hit 39 in 2010: See where they happened.”
