Key witness in teen’s murder in southern Colorado accepts plea deal

A woman originally facing an accessory to murder charge for her role in the death of 18-year-old Thomas Gwardyak in southern Colorado accepted a plea deal on Monday.

Kayla Mattice, 21, admitted to investigators that she saw Tyler Delaney fatally shoot Gwardyak in Fremont County, Colo. in July of 2017.

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On Monday, Mattice pleaded guilty to charges of accessory to a crime and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, according to the Canon City Daily Record.

She will testify in Delaney’s trial, which is scheduled for May 1.

After Delaney led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit and was arrested in August of 2017, he pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder against an officer. He is being held at the Fremont County Jail without bond.

Mattice will be sentenced on April 30. She faces six to eight years in prison and is currently being held at the Pueblo County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.