Metro Denver Crime Stoppers Top Ten Unsolved Cases

Last year, 96 homicides took place in Denver – the highest number in forty years – and many have yet to result in arrests or charges. But then, many older cases involving murders and other violent offenses in the metro area remain open; Metro Denver Crime Stoppers highlights about 30 of them dating back to 1981 on a web page devoted to unsolved cases.

The most recent incident on the list occurred in August 2020; it was an aggravated assault on an at-risk adult. The others are homicides, and several have already been covered by Westword, including the murders of Khobi Eiland, Ijah Hamilton and Scott Breitinger. But while their circumstances differ significantly, they share a lack of resolve.

Here are the ten most recent unsolved crimes on the list, complete with descriptions, photos, and links:

Aggravated Assault on an Adult at Risk (August 2020)
Around 8 p.m. on August 18, 2020, a man attacked an 87-year-old woman near North Uvalda Street and East Randolph Place in Denver. The victim survived, but was beaten and sustained serious injuries. She described her attacker as a man in his twenties who was possibly Hispanic, of medium to heavy build. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and shorts at the time of the attack.

Murder of Kalani Hayter (July 2020)
See photo at the top of this post
Twenty-year-old Kalani Hayter was found dead inside a red 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche in the 2500 block of West Eighth Avenue in Denver early July 7, 2020; the vehicle had been taken at gunpoint the previous night. Investigators described the carjacking suspects as black males in their late teens or early twenties. They were apparently wearing hoodies when the crime was committed.

Murder of Alicia Marie Tverberg (December 2019)
Alica Marie Tverberg, 21, was found dead in an apartment in the 8700 block of Galen Court in unincorporated Adams County on December 26, 2019. She had been shot. No suspicious information has been made public.

Homicide of Khobi Eiland (September 2018)
A resident of Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, Khobi Eiland was shot dead on East 29th Avenue between Forest and Glencoe streets around 5 p.m. on September 7, 2018, and pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not shared any details about any possible suspects.

Homicide of Kevin Garcia (March 2018)
Kevin Garcia, 40, was shot and killed around 8 p.m. on March 21, 2018, at 633 Lipan Street in Denver. No suspicious information is available.

Murder of Ijah Hamilton (November 2017)
Seventeen-year-old Ijah Hamilton was in a vehicle with another man after 7:30 p.m. on November 16, 2017, when they stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of East Thrill Place and Forest Street in Denver. Seconds later, several suspects approached and opened fire. Hamilton died and although the other passenger survived, Metro Denver Crime Stoppers does not provide details of the shooters.

Murder of Deonta McDonald (October 2016)
A shooting around 1 a.m. on October 12, 2016 claimed the life of 19-year-old Deonta McDonald, nicknamed “D” and “Slim”. The location: the 1300 block of South Birch Street in Denver. Suspicious information is not included on the site.

Click to enlarge

(L to R): Scott Breitinger; Jevon Bailey; and Dillon Leo Bueno.

Murder of Scott Breitinger (April 2016)

At approximately 12:42 p.m. on April 3, 2016, Denver police officers were dispatched to an alley corresponding to 3219 West Nevada Place after a report of gunfire. There they found Scott Breitinger, 49; he had been shot several times and did not respond to medical attention. 911 callers were unable to provide descriptions of the shooter(s).

Murder of Jevon Bailey (December 2015)
At 10:42 a.m. on December 22, 2015, 23-year-old Jevon Bailey was driving a blue Volkswagen Passat near East Iliff Avenue and South Warren Drive in Aurora when he encountered a black man driving a white sedan. After what investigators believe was a road rage incident, Bailey was shot in the head.

Murder of Dillon Leo Bueno (October 2015)
Dillon Leo Bueno was 24 when he was shot and killed on Halloween night in 2015 outside his Commerce City residence in the 7300 block of Krameria Drive. The police did not offer a suspect profile.

Metro Denver Crime Stoppers offers rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to arrests or convictions for each incident; call 720-913-STOP (7867) for more information.