Tree-trimmers see aftermath of double slaying in Colorado Springs

Two of three men on a tree-trimming crew testified Thursday that they saw a man run from the car and into the home of a Fort Carson soldier and his pregnant wife who were killed in January 2013.

Alejandro Villegas and James Williams took the witness stand on the third day of the murder trial of Macyo January, 18. He’s accused of shooting Sgt. David Dunlap and Whitney Butler after the couple returned home during a burglary.

The crime happened on Bassett Drive near the intersection of Airport Road and Circle Drive.

Villegas and Williams told the jury they were working near the victims’ home when they thought they heard gunfire, but assumed the sounds came from training Fort Carson. However, they said the next sign of trouble came when a deaf neighbor tried to alert them.

Villegas and Williams testified that as they approached the home, they saw what later was identified as the victims’ car in the middle of the street.

“We didn’t see anyone in there,” Williams said. “Then we saw a man get out and run away. He dropped a duffel bag as he ran. We saw his face for a only few seconds. We backed off a bit at that point because we didn’t know what was going on. But we also saw guns in the car.”

Villegas and Williams said they noticed the front door to the victims’ home was open, and they looked inside to see the couple’s bodies on the floor in blood.

“(We) turned as white as a ghost,” Williams said.

Moments later, Williams said the man returned to the car — apparently tired from running — then took out a pistol and entered the home.

“That was the last we saw of him,” Williams said. “Police came right after that.”

Defense attorneys said the testimony isn’t enough proof to connect January to the murders, and emphasized that both witnesses have forgotten many specific details.

“Neither witness has positively identified my client as the murderer,” defense attorney Marcus Henson said.

On numerous occasions, when Henson asked whether Williams made certain statements about the suspect’s description to investigators, Williams said that he didn’t remember.

Among others testifying Thursday were several neighbors who saw a man running from the scene or heard dogs barking as a sign that a stranger was in the neighborhood.

One woman said part of her fence was damaged as if someone had run through it, and she also found a footprint there.

January was arrested several days after the murders, at the home of a friend accused of helping him hide. He was 17 at the time and is being tried as an adult.

Defense attorneys say they don’t expect the prosecution to rest its case until sometime next week.