Metro Denver Crime Stoppers: Reward up to $25,000 for killing a man

DENVER (KDVR) — The reward for information about the murder of 28-year-old Jacob “Jake” Brady has been raised to $25,000.

Brady’s body was found the day after Thanksgiving near Second Avenue and Utica Street in West Denver. Friends and family members collected donations to increase the reward fund along with FOX31 partners Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.

“He had a huge heart and he never wanted to see the bad in anyone. I often told him that he was overconfident and that he needed to remember he was no longer in Louisiana” , said Brady’s mother, Angie Gaskin, “He has two families who cherished him and loved him and we are all devastated.”

Denise Whitley knew Jake when he was only 5 years old. They lived in a tight-knit community in Westlake, Louisiana. She even taught him in seventh and eighth grades.

“He loved all sports. He and my daughter actually played T-ball together when they were 5 and I remember as the mother of the canoe, I remember how much he loved being there. He was always a people person, even from that age. He wanted to hang out with his friends,” Whitley said.

She says he was kind, a friend to everyone, and a hard worker. When Jake first moved to Colorado, everyone called it “Louisiana,” according to his mother. Jake moved to Colorado with his dog Bella to explore the beauty of the state.

“When he came on vacation he never came home, he loved it,” Whitley said.

His death sent shockwaves through his hometown.

“Since I first heard about it, of course you go through the crying and that phase of grief and emotion, you get to the point where you’re confused, angry, you don’t understand how that could happen,” Whitley said. .

Whitley said it says a lot about how much Jake was loved that so many people helped raise money to increase the reward for bringing someone to justice.

If you have any information that could help investigators, police request that information be sent to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. The number is 720-913-STOP. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for the reward which can now be up to $25,000.