Arapahoe D.A. disappointed with DOC decision to move Aurora theater shooter out of state

A former Colorado state prison worker argues there’s a reason the Department of Corrections is not revealing where James Holmes is being housed.

“He would have been a likely target for murder just so somebody could have 15 minutes of fame for having killed him,” Larry Nutter, a licensed psychotherapist said. “So, James Holmes was not safe in Colorado.”

The Aurora theater shooter was moved from a prison in Pueblo earlier this week, but the DOC won’t say where.

Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler who tried Holmes’ murder case is disappointed.

“I’d feel better if he was in Colorado because I’d know he was here serving out his punishment,” Brauchler said. “Let’s make no illusion, this sentence was about punishment in the place where he committed the crime.”

Brauchler believes this secrecy only adds to the heartache for the families of the victims.

“There’s the possibility he could end up escaping,” Brauchler said. “He could end up re-victimizing someone else. “These are issues the public should get to know about and talk about.”

Brauchler said Holmes will not be housed in California, per the wishes of the victims’ families.

However, the district attorney is not convinced DOC will keep its word.

“What concerns me here is that these are all unelected, largely unaccountable people that are in their positions making these kinds of decisions,” Brauchler said. “My guess is they’d feel comfortable telling the governor. The governor who picked the executive director of DOC has greater access to information about where the greatest mass murderer that we can think of in Colorado’s memory, where he goes to prison. “But, the prosecutor who tried to lock him up and sought his death he doesn’t get to know that.”