Deceased/Not Found CO - Aarone Thompson, 4, Aurora, 2003 *A. Thompson guilty*
- Thread starter ShowerSinger
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Police Chief Dan Oates said Friday that he believed his department had built a strong enough case to make arrests, but he was convinced to allow the case to go to a grand jury.
In Colorado, grand juries are allowed subpoena powers that neither prosecutors nor police have prior to charges being filed, said Assistant District Attorney Leslie Hansen.
Defense cross-examination doesn't occur during a grand jury proceeding, and people who aren't at risk of being charged with a crime can be compelled to testify or face contempt charges, she said.
"The grand jury affords us two things that have the potential to be helpful in building a stronger case," Oates said. "One is the subpoena power to get at records. The other ... is the opportunity to compel testimony and the opportunity to ensure witness statements will be secret."
Oates said records the grand jury will likely request in this case include social services documents previously withheld from police. Lowe and Thompson are working through the courts to regain custody of eight other children removed from their care when police announced the homicide investigation.
Oates wouldn't identify the reluctant witnesses who are likely to be compelled into talking before the grand jury.
So far, only one key witness has been identified. Eric Williams, Lowe's incarcerated former common-law husband, told investigators that Lowe told him Aarone died in the house and that Lowe and Thompson buried the girl in a field, according to a document obtained in December by The Denver Post.
Oates said the investigation has developed other witnesses who haven't been reported.
"The press has seemed to focus on one particular source, and we have multiple sources," he said.
Attorneys advising Lowe and Thompson say they believe authorities are calling a grand jury because they have no probable cause to make an arrest.
Oates denies this. "I am confident to say to the people who did this that their day of reckoning is coming," Oates said
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3791397
In Colorado, grand juries are allowed subpoena powers that neither prosecutors nor police have prior to charges being filed, said Assistant District Attorney Leslie Hansen.
Defense cross-examination doesn't occur during a grand jury proceeding, and people who aren't at risk of being charged with a crime can be compelled to testify or face contempt charges, she said.
"The grand jury affords us two things that have the potential to be helpful in building a stronger case," Oates said. "One is the subpoena power to get at records. The other ... is the opportunity to compel testimony and the opportunity to ensure witness statements will be secret."
Oates said records the grand jury will likely request in this case include social services documents previously withheld from police. Lowe and Thompson are working through the courts to regain custody of eight other children removed from their care when police announced the homicide investigation.
Oates wouldn't identify the reluctant witnesses who are likely to be compelled into talking before the grand jury.
So far, only one key witness has been identified. Eric Williams, Lowe's incarcerated former common-law husband, told investigators that Lowe told him Aarone died in the house and that Lowe and Thompson buried the girl in a field, according to a document obtained in December by The Denver Post.
Oates said the investigation has developed other witnesses who haven't been reported.
"The press has seemed to focus on one particular source, and we have multiple sources," he said.
Attorneys advising Lowe and Thompson say they believe authorities are calling a grand jury because they have no probable cause to make an arrest.
Oates denies this. "I am confident to say to the people who did this that their day of reckoning is coming," Oates said
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3791397
Nov. 14, 2005: Aaron Thompson reports his six-year-old daughter Aaroné had run away from their Aurora home after an argument over a cookie. 10-15 police officers begin searching later that evening.
Nov. 15, 2005: The search expands to 70 officers. Police announce the family is not being as cooperative as they had hoped. The Thompson family gives police a photo of Aaroné taken in the summer of 2004 it's the last known photo taken of the missing child. Thompson describes his daughter as "talkative and strong-headed."
Nov. 17, 2005: Police suspend the search after receiving a tip that Aaroné has been dead for over a year. Police name Thompson and his live-in girlfriend Shely Lowe "persons of interest" in what will become a homicide investigation. The remaining seven children, including Lowe's younger brother, are taken from their parents and placed in protective custody. Less than two weeks later Lowe gives birth to a baby girl who is also removed from her mother's custody.
Media reports name Eric Williams, father of two of Shely Lowe's children, as the informant who tipped police to suspected foul play. The Thompson family attacks the credibility of Williams, a state inmate with an extensive criminal history.
Nov. 20, 2005: Tensions between the family and Aurora police escalate when Aaroné's paternal grandparents challenge the department's commitment to the case. Investigators search the Thompson property for a hidden grave.
Nov. 24, 2005: The Rocky Mountain News reports that a social worker had toured the Thompson house two hours before Thompson reported his daughter missing. At least one of the seven children living at the home tells investigators that Aaroné had not been seen since late 2004. In March of this year, Lowe's son and brother tell CBS 4 News they were bullied by police and threatened with never seeing their family again if they did not cooperate with police. Chief Daniel Oates denies the allegation.
Dec. 1, 2005: The Rocky Mountain News reports that Aaroné's name was not included on a Christmas gift registration form the Thompsons had submitted to a program for needy families.
Dec. 5, 2005: Two well known defense attorneys, Walter Gerash and David Lane, announce they will be representing the Thompson family during the investigation. Lowe's previous lawyer dropped out of the case after claiming Lowe did not inform her of media interviews she was giving.
More at link...
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4675647,00.html
Nov. 15, 2005: The search expands to 70 officers. Police announce the family is not being as cooperative as they had hoped. The Thompson family gives police a photo of Aaroné taken in the summer of 2004 it's the last known photo taken of the missing child. Thompson describes his daughter as "talkative and strong-headed."
Nov. 17, 2005: Police suspend the search after receiving a tip that Aaroné has been dead for over a year. Police name Thompson and his live-in girlfriend Shely Lowe "persons of interest" in what will become a homicide investigation. The remaining seven children, including Lowe's younger brother, are taken from their parents and placed in protective custody. Less than two weeks later Lowe gives birth to a baby girl who is also removed from her mother's custody.
Media reports name Eric Williams, father of two of Shely Lowe's children, as the informant who tipped police to suspected foul play. The Thompson family attacks the credibility of Williams, a state inmate with an extensive criminal history.
Nov. 20, 2005: Tensions between the family and Aurora police escalate when Aaroné's paternal grandparents challenge the department's commitment to the case. Investigators search the Thompson property for a hidden grave.
Nov. 24, 2005: The Rocky Mountain News reports that a social worker had toured the Thompson house two hours before Thompson reported his daughter missing. At least one of the seven children living at the home tells investigators that Aaroné had not been seen since late 2004. In March of this year, Lowe's son and brother tell CBS 4 News they were bullied by police and threatened with never seeing their family again if they did not cooperate with police. Chief Daniel Oates denies the allegation.
Dec. 1, 2005: The Rocky Mountain News reports that Aaroné's name was not included on a Christmas gift registration form the Thompsons had submitted to a program for needy families.
Dec. 5, 2005: Two well known defense attorneys, Walter Gerash and David Lane, announce they will be representing the Thompson family during the investigation. Lowe's previous lawyer dropped out of the case after claiming Lowe did not inform her of media interviews she was giving.
More at link...
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4675647,00.html
Bobbisangel
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I'm so glad that this case is going before the grand jury. Can't wait to find out who the witnesses are and what they have to say. Course we won't know anything until the trial but at least we can see Thompson and Lowe going to trial in the future. About time.
chicoliving
Former Member
A plan to reunite Aaroné Thompson's father and his girlfriend with the eight children taken from them while police investigate the girl's disappearance as a possible homicide is expected to be presented to a judge next week.
more at link (bottom of the page)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4693397,00.html
more at link (bottom of the page)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4693397,00.html
Greywing
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Family: Aarone's stepmom is dead
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4693682,00.html
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4693682,00.html
Greywing
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AURORA, Colo. -- A key figure in the investigation into the disappearance of an Aurora girl died Friday morning after she was rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest.
"Shely Lowe was rush to Aurora South Medical Center at 4:30 this morning," said 7News Investigator Tony Kovaleski. "She was found in her home on Kepner Place in Aurora ... Aaron Thompson was with her at the time she died. She had complications from a recent pregnancy and that may have contributed to her death."
More at link including live report/video http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9204078/detail.html
"Shely Lowe was rush to Aurora South Medical Center at 4:30 this morning," said 7News Investigator Tony Kovaleski. "She was found in her home on Kepner Place in Aurora ... Aaron Thompson was with her at the time she died. She had complications from a recent pregnancy and that may have contributed to her death."
More at link including live report/video http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9204078/detail.html
Reader
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Thank you for posting this news, Greywing.
Quotes also from the above link:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9204078/detail.html
"Police received a 911 call that Shely Lowe was in medical distress at 4:30 this morning," said 7News Investigator Tony Kovaleski. "She was found in her home on Kepner Place in Aurora ... Aaron Thompson was with her at the time she died. She had complications from a recent pregnancy and that may have contributed to her death."
An autopsy was under way Friday morning to determine the exact cause of Thompson's death.
Family friend Sam Riddle said he had last talked to Lowe several days ago and she was distraught.
-----------------------------------
Oates was asked to respond to Riddle's charges that Lowe was "hounded to death by the Aurora police" and said, "I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer. That's just silly."
Oates said the grand jury investigation would go on as scheduled and the district attorney held a news conference to confirm the chief's comments.
"We still anticipate that the grand jury will go forward next week," said Carol Chambers at a morning news conference. "This will slow the process down because we want to talk to the children."
Chambers said the grand jury investigation could take months.
************************
A previous article also linked:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9169094/detail.html
AURORA, Colo. -- Aurora's police chief told 7NEWS Friday that he has no doubt that the decision to take Aarone Thompson's murder investigation to a grand jury will result in an arrest.
----------------------------------
The chief also said he believes the grand jury may uncover key facts from some witnesses who he believes have, to this point, withheld valuable information.
"In your mind, is there any chance when we get to the end of the road with the grand jury that you won't make an arrest or arrests in this case?" Kovaleski asked.
Without skipping a beat, Oates said, "No. There's no chance."
*************************
I may get blasted for this comment, but I'm sorry that I can't feel any grief for Shely's death when I believe she was responsible for the murder of a 7 year old girl and lying and concealing it for over 2 years.
My regret is that she will not have to tell the truth to the grand jury about what happened to Aarone. Now the so-called "father" will have to face the music alone and I believe he will fold quickly without Shely backing him up.
Sorry if this offends anyone but it is how I feel, and I have followed this case since it began and even wrote about it previously, with the implications of child abuse in that home to Aarone and to Shely's own children.
Quotes also from the above link:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9204078/detail.html
"Police received a 911 call that Shely Lowe was in medical distress at 4:30 this morning," said 7News Investigator Tony Kovaleski. "She was found in her home on Kepner Place in Aurora ... Aaron Thompson was with her at the time she died. She had complications from a recent pregnancy and that may have contributed to her death."
An autopsy was under way Friday morning to determine the exact cause of Thompson's death.
Family friend Sam Riddle said he had last talked to Lowe several days ago and she was distraught.
-----------------------------------
Oates was asked to respond to Riddle's charges that Lowe was "hounded to death by the Aurora police" and said, "I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer. That's just silly."
Oates said the grand jury investigation would go on as scheduled and the district attorney held a news conference to confirm the chief's comments.
"We still anticipate that the grand jury will go forward next week," said Carol Chambers at a morning news conference. "This will slow the process down because we want to talk to the children."
Chambers said the grand jury investigation could take months.
************************
A previous article also linked:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9169094/detail.html
AURORA, Colo. -- Aurora's police chief told 7NEWS Friday that he has no doubt that the decision to take Aarone Thompson's murder investigation to a grand jury will result in an arrest.
----------------------------------
The chief also said he believes the grand jury may uncover key facts from some witnesses who he believes have, to this point, withheld valuable information.
"In your mind, is there any chance when we get to the end of the road with the grand jury that you won't make an arrest or arrests in this case?" Kovaleski asked.
Without skipping a beat, Oates said, "No. There's no chance."
*************************
I may get blasted for this comment, but I'm sorry that I can't feel any grief for Shely's death when I believe she was responsible for the murder of a 7 year old girl and lying and concealing it for over 2 years.
My regret is that she will not have to tell the truth to the grand jury about what happened to Aarone. Now the so-called "father" will have to face the music alone and I believe he will fold quickly without Shely backing him up.
Sorry if this offends anyone but it is how I feel, and I have followed this case since it began and even wrote about it previously, with the implications of child abuse in that home to Aarone and to Shely's own children.
I'm not offended by your post. I think you wrote with genuine human emotion. The passing of someone is never a joyous occassion. Even in situations where I feel someone is worthy of the death penalty it makes my heart heavy to hear it come to fruition. When someone harms a child it's difficult to feel sorrow over their death. Some people even rejoice. I suspect that if somehow it turns out Aarone is safe somewhere or Shely was not involved that you will feel sympathy for her untimely death.
curiositycat
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The girlfriend of the father of little six year old Arrone Thompson died today of what they are calling a heart attack. The woman, Shelly Lowe, was only 32 years old. An autopsy was performed but nothing learned as been released as of this time.
This case is very strange. The fact that like Jon-Benet Ramsey they have not arrested anyone and this little girls father reported her missing in November of 2005, makes you wonder how hard they really look for missing children in Colorado.
I am sickened by the lack of caring about the murder of this innocent precious child.
This case is very strange. The fact that like Jon-Benet Ramsey they have not arrested anyone and this little girls father reported her missing in November of 2005, makes you wonder how hard they really look for missing children in Colorado.
I am sickened by the lack of caring about the murder of this innocent precious child.
curiositycat
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http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3813092
"This appears to be the result of a medical emergency," Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said. "It appears to be a natural death."
How odd. She was only 32? Seems awfully suspicious to me.
"This appears to be the result of a medical emergency," Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said. "It appears to be a natural death."
How odd. She was only 32? Seems awfully suspicious to me.
mysteriew
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Shelley evidently had a pre-existing heart condition which she took medication for. Defense attorney of course is blaming the investigation for exacerbating her condition. Aaron T. is cooperating in the investigation into her death.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3813092
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060512/NEWS01/60512001
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3813092
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060512/NEWS01/60512001
Bobbisangel
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When I heard this news the first thing that I thought was...her children won't be going back home and I think that is a good thing. I feel bad for her children because I'm sure that they probably love their mother but I think the kids are better off...IF they are in GOOD foster homes.
I'm wondering if now that Shely is gone Arron will place all of the blame on her as she isn't here to tell her story. I'm sure that he could come up with a real good story of why he couldn't tell anyone.
On the news it said that Shely has had heart problems for years. I'm sure the stress hasn't done her heart any good but all she had to do was tell the truth and the stress would have lightened up quite a bit.
I wonder what will happen to the baby now. It must belong to Aaron. I wish it could be placed for adoption while it is still so young. There must be lots of couples that would just love to have her.
I'm wondering if now that Shely is gone Arron will place all of the blame on her as she isn't here to tell her story. I'm sure that he could come up with a real good story of why he couldn't tell anyone.
On the news it said that Shely has had heart problems for years. I'm sure the stress hasn't done her heart any good but all she had to do was tell the truth and the stress would have lightened up quite a bit.
I wonder what will happen to the baby now. It must belong to Aaron. I wish it could be placed for adoption while it is still so young. There must be lots of couples that would just love to have her.
dark_shadows
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(AP) AURORA, Colo. A woman who has been called a "person of interest" in the disappearance of a 6-year-old girl died Friday of an apparent heart condition, police said.
Shely Lowe was 32 and had previous heart problems, police chief Daniel Oates said.
Lowe lived with Aaron Thompson, whose daughter Aarone was reported missing in November. Police say they believe the child is dead and her disappearance is under investigation by a grand jury.
Aarone has not been found and no one has been arrested.
Police had called Thompson and Lowe persons of interest in the case but declined to use that term again once the case was given to a grand jury one week ago.
Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers said Lowe's death would slow the investigation of Aarone's disappearance, but she said the grand jury would proceed and its focus would not change.
This link has many other related links to this story
Shely Lowe was 32 and had previous heart problems, police chief Daniel Oates said.
Lowe lived with Aaron Thompson, whose daughter Aarone was reported missing in November. Police say they believe the child is dead and her disappearance is under investigation by a grand jury.
Aarone has not been found and no one has been arrested.
Police had called Thompson and Lowe persons of interest in the case but declined to use that term again once the case was given to a grand jury one week ago.
Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers said Lowe's death would slow the investigation of Aarone's disappearance, but she said the grand jury would proceed and its focus would not change.
This link has many other related links to this story
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