By Corrections1 Staff
DENVER — A man who admitted to fatally slashing a Colorado CO in a rampage has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The Denver Post reports that Miguel Alonso Contreras-Perez, who faces the death penalty for the slaying, entered the not guilty plea Wednesday. Contreras-Perez is charged with the Sept. 21, 2012 slashing death of Sgt. Mary Ricard at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility. The inmate also reportedly stabbed Sgt. Lori Gann the same day.
The case has moved slowly in part due to Contreras-Perez firing his initial attorneys and the issue of his mental capacity. Contreras-Perez admitted to killing Ricard and attempting to kill Gann and another officer in order to “boost” his body count to at least three.
Contreras-Perez also admitted the attack was sparked by a jealous rage. The inmate was obsessed with Gann and became jealous when he believed that she was in a sexual relationship with another inmate and the third CO he attacked.
Surveillance footage at the facility shows Ricard bringing Contreras-Perez to a locked storage area before the inmate reportedly stabbed the officer in the neck.
Prosecutors also presented several letters written by Contreras-Perez that boast about the stabbings. Before learning Gann survived the attack, Contreras-Perez wrote about killing two “pigs” and declared himself a proud “cop killer.”
In another note written by the inmate, he said that he didn’t understanding why the stabbing was a big deal, and that “it was only one little itty bitty person.” The inmate also said he did Ricard a favor because she’s a Christian and is in heaven.
Crowley County District Attorney Jim Bullock has said he is seeking the death penalty against the inmate, who is also a convicted child rapist. Ricard’s family said they were against Contreras-Perez getting the death penalty because Ricard opposed the punishment due to her religious beliefs.