Another plea deal made after ‘execution-style’ murder of Colorado Springs teens
Another person facing murder charges for the execution-style killing of two Colorado Springs teenagers last year took a plea deal Monday.
Alexandra Romero pleaded guilty to kidnapping Monday and will face between 32 and 48 years for her role in the killings of Natalie Partida, 16, and Derek Greer, 15. The pair were slain last March as revenge for an alleged theft at a party and retaliation against Partida for providing information about alleged gang members. Romero admitted to being part of the crime by luring the teens to hang out under the false pretense of partying and buying drugs.
She also participated in another kidnapping of a juvenile female a few weeks prior to the murders.
Read the timeline of events HERE.
Romero is the latest to enter a plea deal after co-conspirator Gustavo Marquez pleaded guilty back in April. Marquez and Romero are accused of luring the teens to their deaths.
According to the court documents, it was Romero and Joey Rodriguez who came up with the scheme to get Partida into the car with Marquez and another suspect. The two would then drive her to Rodriguez’s house to be beaten up and scared.
Instead, Partida and Greer were taken to Old Pueblo Road, where they were shot. Marquez claims he stood by as Diego Chacon shot Partida, and Garcia-Bravo shot Greer.
Romero told investigators that she believed Chacon’s role was to murder Partida, because he was carrying the only gun, and that Marquez was the kidnapper because he was the only person that could get Partida in the car with them.
Romero told police that Partida was the intended target and that Greer was only murdered because he was present.
Romero will be officially sentenced on Sept. 4. She will have to testify against Chacon and Garcia-Bravo as part of her deal.
Chacon and Garcia-Bravo were also in court Monday for a status hearing, but no new developments were made.
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One of the suspects accused of murder in the deaths of two Colorado Springs teenagers pleaded guilty to lesser charges Monday at the El Paso County Courthouse.
Gustavo Marquez and Alexandra Romero faced first-degree murder charges for the deaths of 16-year-old Natalie Partida and 15-year-old Derek Greer on March 12, 2017, near exit 123 off Interstate 25. Ten people were charged with a variety of crimes in connection with the killings.
Marquez pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder Monday. He will face 16-19 years in prison for each count, though sentencing will take place on August 6. He also plans on testify against others in the case.
In court, the judge said the sentences for the two charges will run back to back, meaning Marquez will spend a minimum of 32 years in prison for the crimes.
Romero was scheduled to be arraigned Monday, but that was reset for 3 p.m. April 30.
According to arrest affidavits, Greer and Partida were fatally shot in an “execution position.” Two other men, Diego Chacon and Marco Garcia-Bravo, are the accused triggermen. In court on Monday, Marquez admitted he helped lure the teens into the situation, and said he, Garcia-Bravo, and Chacon all drove out to the location on Old Pueblo Road, where the two were shot. Marquez claims he stood by as Chacon shot Partida, and Garcia-Bravo shot Greer.
Romero told investigators that she believed Chacon’s role was to murder Partida, because he was carrying the only gun and that Marquez was the kidnapper because he was the only person that could get Partida in the car with them.
Romero told police that Partida was the intended target and that Greer was only murdered because he was present.
Court documents say Marquez gave details about what happened the night Greer and Partida were shot. The incident may have stemmed from Partida allegedly taking a purse from someone at a party. Read the timeline of events HERE.
