In the quiet community of Greeley, Colorado, the life of 27-year-old Blaire Evan McQueen, a white female, was tragically cut short on December 18, 2020. A loving mother of two, Blaire was described by her family as a creative and kind soul with a unique sense of humor who enjoyed music, arts, and writing in her journals. Her sudden and violent death sent ripples of shock and grief through her family and the local community, leaving behind two young children, Embrie McQueen and Jackson
Holten.
On that cold December morning, Greeley police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 2100 block of 18th Avenue at approximately 8:08 a.m. to investigate a report of suspicious activity. Upon entering the home, they made a grim discovery; Blaire McQueen was found deceased inside. The Weld County Coroner's Office later confirmed her identity and an autopsy revealed that she had been shot four times, with one fatal wound at the base of her skull. The initial investigation did not immediately identify a suspect, prompting law enforcement to ask the public for any information that could lead to an arrest.
The investigation into Blaire's murder progressed swiftly. Just days later, on December 24, 2020, the Greeley Police Department announced the arrests of two suspects: Marquise Daniels and Mckenzie Prader, both 25 at the time. The investigation revealed that the two had previously lived with McQueen and that the motive for the break-in and subsequent murder was retaliation for what they believed was stolen property. Daniels and Prader were initially charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, aggravated robbery, and first-degree burglary.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of justice for Blaire and her family. Marquise Daniels pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated robbery. He was sentenced to a total of 60 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. His co-defendant, Mckenzie Prader, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery, first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, and accessory to a Class 1 felony. She received a sentence of 25 years in prison for her role in the crime.
