Suspect ID'd in Killing of CO Prison Kitchen Staffer
Miguel Alonso Contreras-Perez, an army deserter and convicted rapist serving an indeterminate (up to life) sentence has been identified as the suspect in the killing of a Sgt. Mary Ricard, 55, a prison kitchen worker at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility near Ordway, Colorado. Another prison staffer, Sgt. Lori Gann was seriously injured in the attack which occurred as as Ricard, who was working on her day off, was supervising inmates preparing breakfast. There are 1,000 inmates at the prison.
Contreras-Perez pleaded guilty in 2004 to kidnapping a 14 year old girl at a bus stop at 6:30 a.m. and sexually assaulting her in 2002. The victim said he was wearing military clothing. He went AWOL from Fort Carson a month after the crime, and traveled to Utah, where he turned himself in at a police station and confessed. (Ex-soldier gets 35 years Man pleaded guilty to kidnapping, raping 14-year-old girl The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado) February 3, 2004.)
He was returned to Colorado, pleaded guilty and sentenced in 2004. He was 22 at the time of the crime, and according to the victim, married with two children. (Teen rape victim wants people to understand The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado) February 3, 2003 Monday). [More...]
When one inmate commits a violent crime, repercussions are felt throughout the whole system. Not only are all inmates at Arkansas Valley now on lockdown, but:
All medium and closed (high) security prisons in the state are on partial lockdown so that additional staff from other prisons can assist in prison operations at Arkansas Valley, Morgan said.
Authorities say the killing was an isolated incident. The inmates and staff at the prison in Limon are now preparing the 3 meals a day for the inmates at Arkansas Valley.
Contreras-Perez had been suspected of other crimes at the time he kidnapped and raped the 14 year old (Teen rape victim wants people to understand The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado) February 3, 2003 Monday.)
A week before her rape, detective Terry Duran said Contreras- Perez tried to kidnap a woman in her 20s from the same place. "Exact same time, exact same bus stop," Duran said. Contreras-Perez exposed himself to the woman, then tried to pull her into the car, she said....Investigators say Contreras-Perez hunted for victims in the area of Sierra High School, approaching girls and asking them if they wanted a ride.
"He's a predator," Duran said. "He planned it. He picked the time, the spot. He knew what kind of victim he was looking for. That's what he preys on: young, innocent girls."
Funeral services for Sgt. Ricard are Saturday.
| < Bloomberg Poll: Mitt's Negative Perception Problem | Wednesday Open Thread > |
