Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies are holding a 50-year-old man suspected of homicide in what police are calling a “nefarious” killing inside an RV parked at a Regional Transportation District Park-N-Ride lot.
Sheriff’s investigators on Wednesday announced that Donald Leroy Harris will face charges of first degree murder. He remained in the Jefferson County jail Wednesday for investigation of the killing of Matthew Hire, 57, whose body was found on April 14, fatally shot inside an RV with its door open in the RTD Park-N-Ride lot near Interstate 70 and Morrison Road.
Deputies said they’ve served Harris with the murder charge.
Harris was the last person seen with Hire, authorities said. They believe the murder occurred on March 25 or 26.
On March 26, Golden police contacted Harris regarding outstanding warrants out of Denver and arrested him — before investigators made a connection between Harris and Hire.
Jeffco officials said Wednesday, in a news release, that investigators collected Harris’ personal belongings from when he was arrested and regard these as evidence “in this nefarious crime.” Those possessions included Hire’s cell phone and keys to Hire’s RV. The investigators also found Hire’s blood on Harris’ clothing, officials said, and Harris had Hire’s Jeep at the time of his arrest, they said. The murder weapon was found in the Jeep, where investigators found DNA from the suspect and the victim. Jeffco Sheriff Investigations Chief Marc Snowden lauded his team for “meticulous work” collecting evidence in this case.
