A Denver jury on Wednesday convicted Matthew Omara of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in a December 2022 attack that left two women dead. The verdict caps a case that started with a series of emergency calls about a man who had reportedly returned to an apartment in violation of a protection order and was making threats.
Jurors reached their decision this week after hearing days of testimony and reviewing evidence presented at trial. Prosecutors say Omara now faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, with formal sentencing set for July 24, according to 9News.
What Happened on Dec. 7, 2022
On the morning of Dec. 7, 2022, Denver 911 received a call at about 7:48 a.m. reporting that a man was at an apartment and appeared to be violating a protection order. Roughly 20 minutes later, the same caller reported that the man was now armed with a knife and making threats. When officers entered the building, they found a woman in the hallway with a severe neck injury and another woman in the living room, according to the probable-cause statement and contemporaneous coverage by Denver7.
Victims Identified and Aftermath
The woman found in the hallway was identified as 20-year-old Taylor Trevino, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman found inside the apartment, 56-year-old Christina Hardin, was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died several days later, authorities said. Those identifications and medical outcomes were reported by local outlets and the medical examiner, according to 9News.
Arrest and Witness Intervention
About 30 minutes after the initial 911 call, another emergency call came in from a nearby work site, where witnesses reported that a man was attacking workers. Construction employees at 2570 South Dayton Way managed to restrain a suspect until officers arrived. Court documents and reporting state that one worker was punched and another was struck with a rock before coworkers subdued the man for police, per Denver7.
What Comes Next
With the guilty verdict now entered, Omara is scheduled to be sentenced in Denver District Court on July 24. Under Colorado law, a conviction for first-degree murder can result in a life sentence without the possibility of parole. At the sentencing hearing, prosecutors will have an opportunity to lay out aggravating factors, while the defense can argue for mitigating circumstances before the judge issues a final sentence. The statutory framework for first-degree murder in Colorado is outlined on legal reference sites such as FindLaw.
