By Kirk Mitchell
The Denver Post
ORDWAY — Testimony at a court hearing for a prisoner accused of stabbing two female corrections officers in the neck, one fatally, revolved around the child rapist’s claim that jealous rage provoked his attacks.
Miguel Alonso Contreras-Perez is charged with killing Sgt. Mary Ricard and attempting to kill Sgt. Lori Gann at Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility last year. Ricard died within seconds after a knife severed both arteries in her neck, a doctor testified at Perez’s preliminary hearing Wednesday. There appeared to be no dispute between defense and prosecutors that Perez committed the attacks.
Perez’s defense attorney Kimberly Chalmers indicated the real battle is over a possible death penalty, making the argument over Perez’s motive for the knife attacks an important issue. But prosecutor Jack Roth said Perez’s claim that he had a romantic relationship with Gann was unproved. Inspector General’s Office investigator Rodney Davidson found a letter Perez said he wrote to read to Gann. In the letter, Perez claims he and Gann had a sexual relationship for two months. The letter goes on to say he knew of her sexual relationship with an inmate he considered his rival.
Full story: Inmate who stabbed 2 prison officers, killing one, cited jealousy