In the summer of 2015, the community of Rocky Ford, Colorado, was shaken by the discovery of a young woman's body. On July 24th, police were called to a residence in the 600 block of South 8th Street, where they found 33-year-old Ada M. Velasquez Ybarra deceased inside the home. An investigation into her death was immediately launched by the Rocky Ford Police Department, with assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Otero County Sheriff's Office, and the 16th Judicial District
Attorney's Office.
As investigators delved into Ybarra's life, their focus soon turned to Edward Lawrence Aragon, a man with whom she was in a relationship. Aragon had been living with Ybarra at the home where her body was discovered. The evidence gathered by law enforcement pointed to Aragon as the primary suspect in her death, leading to his arrest. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, setting the stage for a long and arduous legal battle.
For nearly seven years, the case moved through the justice system. Finally, in December 2022, a jury in Otero County found Edward Lawrence Aragon guilty of the first-degree murder of Ada Velasquez Ybarra. On December 16, 2022, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The conviction and sentencing brought a measure of closure to Ybarra's family, who had waited patiently for justice to be served. The 16th Judicial District Attorney's Office commended the family for their strength and acknowledged the dedicated work of the law enforcement agencies involved in bringing the case to its conclusion.
