Prosecutors: Ebel recorded victim before murder (Updated)

Federal prosecutors say a Colorado parolee suspected of killing a computer technician and pizza delivery man forced the victim to read a statement right before his death that seemed to denounce prison officials for putting inmates into solitary confinement.

Prosecutors say Evan Ebel, who’s also suspected of killing Colorado prisons chief Tom Clements, recorded Nathan Leon reading the statement before shooting him to death March 17. The Denver Post reports the recording was revealed in court filings related to the upcoming sentencing of Stevie Vigil, who acknowledged buying the handgun Ebel allegedly used to kill the men.

In part, the transcript reads, “you treated us inhumanely, and so we simply seek to do the same.”

The recorder was found after Ebel was killed in a shootout with Texas authorities.

The Colorado Department of Corrections released the following statement on Tuesday, February 11, 2014:

“The Colorado Department of Corrections continues to assist in the ongoing investigation into the murder of former Executive Director Tom Clements. The Department will not make any comments that might jeopardize the work being done by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

Tom Clements was an extraordinary man who served his community and Department. He was committed to the successful reentry of offenders and reducing the use of administrative segregation.

The Department continues to make significant progress to reduce the use of administrative segregation and continues to fulfill Tom’s vision.”