April 26, 2005

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025 

BRENTS CASE UPDATE

The Denver District Attorney’s Office has learned that a victim in the Brent Brents case has passed away.  The 27-year-old Denver woman collapsed outside her Denver apartment on March 31, 2005 and was taken to St. Joseph Hospital.  She died 10 days later (on her 28^th birthday) on April 10, 2005.  According to the Denver Coroner’s Office, her death was ruled an accident as the result of a drug overdose.

The people of the Denver District Attorney’s Office, especially those working directly on the Brents case, are deeply saddened by this tragedy and express sympathy to the victim’s family.  The woman was attacked on February 16, 2005 near 10^th and Marion in Denver and was repeatedly assaulted before being kidnapped and taken to Glenwood Springs by a man alleged to be Brents. 

The victim’s death will not affect the 80-count case that has been filed against Brents.  He remains in custody in the Denver County Jail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next week, May 2, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. in Denver County Court, room 108.

In another development, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has filed additional charges against Brents today in connection with two new victims who were attacked separately in January.

Brents has been charged today with three counts of sexual assault using force (F3) and two counts of third-degree assault (M1).

These charges allege that Brents lured a 23-year-old woman into his car on January 11, 2005 and sexually assaulted her near 10^th and York.  The charges also allege that he lured a 22-year-old woman into his car on January 21, 2005 and sexually assaulted her near 14^th and Race.  Neither victim went to police at the time of the assault but came forward and reported their separate attacks in February shortly after Brents was arrested.  Brents will be advised of the new charges on Monday, May 2, 2005 at about 10:30 a.m. in Denver County Court, room 12T.

-30-