In the late summer of 2015, a grim discovery was made in the picturesque landscape of Jefferson County, Colorado, marking the final chapter in the life of Jason Michael Dosa. On September 20, 2015, the 44-year-old male was found deceased in a burning car in Deer Creek Canyon. The vehicle had been abandoned down a steep embankment, and the ensuing fire had begun to spread to the surrounding grass. It was a scene that hinted at a violent end, a suspicion that would soon be confirmed by investigators.
An autopsy revealed that Dosa had been shot multiple times before the fire was set. This finding immediately turned the case into a homicide investigation, prompting the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to search for those responsible. Their investigation quickly led them to a suspect, Shawn Geerdes, a 46-year-old man with a criminal history. Geerdes was apprehended a few days after the discovery of Dosa's body.
The motive behind this brutal act was rooted in a business partnership between Dosa and Geerdes. The two were involved in an illegal marijuana growing operation in Agate, a rural community in Elbert County. It was at this location, not in Littleton where his body was found, that the violence unfolded. Investigators discovered evidence at the grow house, including Dosa's blood and spent shell casings, indicating that he had been shot and killed there. His body was then transported to Jefferson County, where the car was set on fire in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.
Shawn Geerdes was charged with first-degree murder and second-degree arson. In July 2017, a jury found Geerdes guilty of the charges. He was subsequently sentenced to 144 years in prison for his role in the death of Jason Dosa. The judge, in handing down the lengthy sentence, noted Geerdes' extensive criminal history. The tragic event left behind Dosa's wife and two children, who remembered him as a loving family man.
