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A friend of the victim said the suspect’s behavior had gotten “worse and worse” in the last few months.
PARKER, Colo. — Just two days before a man is accused of killing his wife in Parker he was released from a psychiatric facility, according to an affidavit for his arrest.
The victim, a 78-year-old woman, was found dead inside a home in the 8400 block of Wheatgrass Circle on April 4, according to Parker Police. A friend of the victim called the police the day before on behalf of the victim. She reported that the woman’s husband was having “psychological issues” and was trying to take medications that did not belong to him.
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When officers arrived at the home that day they encountered the caller, the victim, and her husband, identified as James Beeker, 73. The caller told police that Beeker was “incapable” of taking care of himself but refused to go to an assisted living facility even though a room had been reserved for him there. She also said Beeker had been released from a psychiatric facility on April 2.
The responding officer noted that Beeker appeared “disoriented” and was pacing for an unknown reason, the affidavit says. Paramedics also responded and noted there were “no immediate health concerns” that required him to be taken to the hospital.
It was also reported, according to the affidavit, that he could not be placed on a mental health hold because there was no indication he was an “immediate threat to himself or others.” Officers confirmed Beeker had a bed reserved at an assisted living facility but noted his wife needed to complete additional documentation. They contacted the Department of Human Services and were told there was “nothing further” adult protective services could do to intervene, the affidavit says.
Around 10 a.m. the next morning, a staff member at the assisted living center called police asking for a welfare check for the couple. Staff noted that they and the victim’s friend had been unable to reach the couple. Just before 2 p.m. that day an officer went to the home and found Beeker sitting in a vehicle nearby. The officer explained that they had been looking for him and asked where his wife was. During the conversation, according to the affidavit, Beeker said, “She’s at the house. I think I killed her.” The officer reported that he saw blood on several items of Beeker’s clothing.
Based on that information, another officer forced their way into the home on Wheatgrass Circle and found the victim face down on the kitchen floor, the affidavit says. She appeared to have “trauma” to the back of her head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police contacted the victim’s friend who reported that things had gotten “worse and worse” over the last few months, the affidavit says. She said the victim had decided to have Beeker placed in the assisted living facility and that she was supposed to come over on the morning of April 4 to help her complete the paperwork. She said she could not reach the victim late on April 3 and became increasingly concerned when she couldn’t reach her or Beeker on the morning of April 4.
When Beeker was interviewed he initially answered questions coherently but then began responding by saying he could not remember things. He was booked on a charge of first-degree murder and is due in court on April 29.
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