Who murdered Eugene Lucero in 1995?
In the early morning hours of February 22, 1995, the quiet chill of White Ranch Open Space Park west of Golden, Colorado was broken by a grim discovery. The body of 50-year-old Eugene Lucero, a white male, was found in the parking lot at 6:50 a.m. Lucero, a driver for Metro Taxi, had begun his shift like any other, but a fateful encounter in the pre-dawn hours brought his life to a violent end. The investigation into his death would reveal a timeline of his last known movements, painting a picture of a routine fare that turned deadly.
Investigators determined that between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., Lucero had picked up a passenger at the Sapp Brother's Truck Stop located at I-70 and Quebec Street in Denver. The passenger had called for a cab, stating he needed a ride to an area west of Denver. This was the last known communication before Lucero's body was discovered. His taxi was missing from the scene at the park, adding another layer of mystery to the unfolding tragedy. Later that same day, the abandoned taxi was located in Denver at 54th and Harrison, miles from where its driver's body lay.
The case remains an unsolved homicide, with authorities continuing to seek information about the man who entered Eugene Lucero's taxi that winter morning. The passenger is described as a white adult male, standing between 5'10' and 6'0' tall and weighing 170 to 200 pounds. He had dark brown hair with sideburns. When last seen, he was wearing a camouflage coat, jeans, and boots, and possibly a vest. He was also carrying a brightly colored nylon bag with a dark strap. The man who called the taxi company gave the name Jim Davis. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Eugene Lucero, and his case remains a cold case with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
