After nearly two decades, long-awaited justice edges closer in a 2007 murder case out of Frederick, Colorado. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced the arrest of 72-year-old Darrell Burklund, formerly a maintenance worker, on Friday. Burklund is now facing charges for the murder of Jessica Bejarano, a young mother who was 25 years old at her death. Per the CBI report, Burklund, who is now being held in York, Nebraska, has been booked on a single count of Second Degree Murder.
The tragic events trace back to April 6, 2007, when Frederick police found Bejarano's body with a fatal stab wound in her bathroom. It was a discovery that surely shocked the community, especially given that Bejarano's two young children were present in a home at the time of her death. While the initial investigation cast a wide net, it was Bejarano's husband who faced early scrutiny, only to be cleared when he was placed at work during the crime. According to CBI, DNA evidence obtained years later would point them to Burklund, culminating in his recent arrest following a follow-up interview.
At the time of the crime, Burklund was 54 years old, and as of his arrest, this Wednesday will mark the start of his extradition hearings before he can be taken back to Colorado to face the charges laid against him. The CBI has expressed a firm commitment to solving cold cases like this one. CBI Director Chris Schaefer, who had worked on the case since its inception, remarked, "This arrest is the culmination of years of tireless work by our investigators for the unwavering pursuit of justice for Jessica Bejarano and her family," as obtained by CBI. These sentiments echo the hopes of those yearning for closure over the years.
Gratitude is extended by the family of the victim and the involved law enforcement agencies. "We never gave up hope. Chris Schaefer, who was on Jessica's case from day one, made a promise that he would not retire until Jessica's case was solved. He has kept his promise," Jessica's mother Cece Merrow said, as per CBI. Acknowledgment was also bestowed upon the dedicated work of Frederick Police, the 19th Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the York County Sheriff's Office in Nebraska for their roles in the investigation.
