In the early hours of March 1, 2014, a tragic event unfolded in a condominium in Denver's Montbello neighborhood, resulting in the death of 31-year-old Richard E. Sims, a male resident of the city. Responding to a distress call at 5255 Memphis Street, police discovered the bodies of Sims and 23-year-old Dontai Rashad Carter. Both men had suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the head. The Denver Coroner's Office confirmed their identities and the cause of death as homicide.
Richard, known to his loved ones as 'Richy Rich,' was born on December 25, 1982.
The investigation into the double homicide was immediately launched, with the condominium becoming the focus of the crime scene. Details regarding the state of the interior of the residence or any signs of forced entry have not been made public. The lack of immediate witnesses or a clear motive presented significant challenges for investigators from the outset, leaving them with very few leads to pursue in the initial stages of the inquiry.
Shortly after the discovery, law enforcement identified a 2001 Chevy Tahoe as a vehicle of interest that was possibly connected to the crime and may have been taken from the scene. Later that same day, the vehicle was located in the neighboring city of Aurora. As authorities approached the SUV, several individuals fled on foot. A pursuit ensued, leading to the apprehension of two individuals, and a third, a juvenile with outstanding warrants, was also detained. Despite these apprehensions, a direct link to the double homicide was not immediately established, and no charges for the murders were filed against them at that time. The case of who was responsible for the deaths of Richard Sims and Dontai Carter remains unsolved, becoming one of a number of cold cases in the city of Denver.
