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Denver authorities released a murder suspect after linking him by DNA to the victim’s apartment and after he confessed to bashing the disabled man’s head against a wall and stomping him to death in 1978 because of a miscommunication between a judge and a prosecutor, authorities say.
Shawn Mandell Winkler, 60, is now being sought on an arrest warrant in the murder of 18-year-old Van T. Rogers, walked into Denver police headquarters on Oct. 23 and confessed to the brutal slaying that left Rogers’ body virtually unrecognizable to his own family.
“Certainly it was an unfortunate issue of miscommunication,” Denver District Attorney’s spokeswoman Maro Casparian said.
The Denver County Court judge ordered formal charges to be filed against Winkler by 1 p.m. on Monday, but the prosecutor believed he only needed to file for an extension to file charges, Casparian said. The district attorney’s office filed the request for an extension by the deadline but did not file formal charges, she said.
On the judge’s order, Winkler was released on his own recognizance at 8 p.m. Monday, according to Denver jail officials.
A warrant for Winkler’s arrest wasn’t issued until Thursday, according to court records. On Thursday, Denver police released a Crime Stoppers bulletin that said they have an arrest warrant for Winkler, who is homeless.
Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said police are currently searching for Winkler. “It’s a loss of life and we’re taking it very seriously.”
In January of 1978, police were called to the back of a building at 1025 E. 12th Ave. They found a man lying on the ground with obvious trauma to his face. Detectives collected a fresh cigarette butt, an empty tequila bottle, an empty cigarette pack and an empty beer can.
An acquaintance of Winkler’s contacted The Denver Post recently and explained that Rogers’ body was so severely beaten that his father could only identify him by scars on his body.
Denver jail releases suspect in 1978 murder because of communication snafu — after he confesses – The Denver Post
That had to suck. There is a reward though.
Shawn Mandell Winkler, 60, is now being sought on an arrest warrant in the murder of 18-year-old Van T. Rogers, walked into Denver police headquarters on Oct. 23 and confessed to the brutal slaying that left Rogers’ body virtually unrecognizable to his own family.
“Certainly it was an unfortunate issue of miscommunication,” Denver District Attorney’s spokeswoman Maro Casparian said.
The Denver County Court judge ordered formal charges to be filed against Winkler by 1 p.m. on Monday, but the prosecutor believed he only needed to file for an extension to file charges, Casparian said. The district attorney’s office filed the request for an extension by the deadline but did not file formal charges, she said.
On the judge’s order, Winkler was released on his own recognizance at 8 p.m. Monday, according to Denver jail officials.
A warrant for Winkler’s arrest wasn’t issued until Thursday, according to court records. On Thursday, Denver police released a Crime Stoppers bulletin that said they have an arrest warrant for Winkler, who is homeless.
Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said police are currently searching for Winkler. “It’s a loss of life and we’re taking it very seriously.”
In January of 1978, police were called to the back of a building at 1025 E. 12th Ave. They found a man lying on the ground with obvious trauma to his face. Detectives collected a fresh cigarette butt, an empty tequila bottle, an empty cigarette pack and an empty beer can.
An acquaintance of Winkler’s contacted The Denver Post recently and explained that Rogers’ body was so severely beaten that his father could only identify him by scars on his body.
Denver jail releases suspect in 1978 murder because of communication snafu — after he confesses – The Denver Post
That had to suck. There is a reward though.
