On a winter afternoon in Clifton, Colorado, the life of 36-year-old Marcos Bencomo was tragically cut short. On January 21, 2021, the Grand Junction resident was shot and killed in what was later ruled a homicide. The male victim was found with a gunshot wound to the head outside a residence on White Avenue. Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, he succumbed to his injuries.
Witnesses reported seeing a black Jeep Liberty fleeing the area shortly after the shooting. This vehicle was later discovered abandoned in a parking lot at the Clifton Nature Park, providing an early lead for investigators from the Mesa County Sheriff's Office. Their investigation quickly pointed toward a primary suspect, 56-year-old Frank Kurtz. An arrest warrant was issued for Kurtz on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a previous offender. Authorities also identified a person of interest they wished to question, 37-year-old Charity Perschbacher.
A week after the fatal shooting, on January 28, 2021, both Kurtz and Perschbacher were located and taken into custody without incident. They were found walking in the same Clifton neighborhood where the murder had occurred. Following his arrest, Kurtz faced the judicial process for his actions. He ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for killing Marcos Bencomo in his driveway. In addition to the murder charge, Kurtz also pleaded guilty to burglary and assaulting an inmate while incarcerated.
In February 2023, Frank Kurtz, then 58, was sentenced to 48 years in prison for the murder. During the sentencing, family members of Marcos Bencomo spoke of their profound loss and the enduring grief caused by his violent death. Kurtz himself addressed the court, acknowledging the pain he had caused the Bencomo family and attributing his actions in part to a life affected by methamphetamine use, though he stated it was not an excuse. While Kurtz was held accountable for the murder, Charity Perschbacher faced felony charges related to drug and weapon possession.
