In the quiet community of El Jebel, Colorado, a domestic dispute escalated into a tragedy that claimed the life of 40-year-old Mayra Lorena Lopez, a female of Hispanic descent, on the night of July 12, 2014. She and her husband, Eliseo Lopez, 42, were fatally shot in their home in the Sopris Village subdivision. The couple’s two sons, aged 13 and 14, were present in the house at the time of the shooting but managed to escape unharmed.
One of the sons called 911 after fleeing the residence.
The suspect in the double homicide was identified as Williams Anderson Amaya, the 33-year-old nephew of the victims who had been renting a room in their home for about six months. The violent outburst reportedly stemmed from an argument between Amaya and Mayra Lopez concerning the family dog. On the same day as the killings, Amaya had purchased the. 380 caliber handgun used in the crime.
Following the shooting, Amaya fled the scene. Authorities were able to track him to his place of employment in Glenwood Springs by pinging his cell phone. Early the next morning, after being contacted by a detective and made aware of the SWAT team presence outside his workplace, Amaya surrendered without incident. He was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, with the possibility of attempted murder charges as it was believed other occupants of the house may have also been targeted.
During legal proceedings, details of Amaya's disturbed mental state emerged. He claimed to have killed his aunt and uncle because he believed they were possessed by Lucifer and that he had been instructed to kill them. Evidence presented also showed he had bathed the bullets in holy water prior to the shootings. Ultimately, a jury found Williams Amaya not guilty by reason of insanity. He was then committed to the state mental hospital for treatment. Investigators also noted that during questioning, Amaya made bizarre claims, stating his family consisted of celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton and that he was the 'son of Lucifer.'
