BLUE RIVER, CO – Authorities say a man accused of killing a woman in a quiet Rocky Mountain community had assaulted another woman in the same home just days before the murder, unraveling a disturbing series of events that has shaken the small town of Blue River.
Daniel DeVito, 46, faces charges of first-degree murder in the shooting death of 32-year-old Jordan Labarre. On Monday and Tuesday, a judge heard preliminary evidence as prosecutors detailed the weeklong chain of violence that allegedly occurred at DeVito’s residence, set in a neighborhood about 85 miles west of Denver.
According to law enforcement officials, the violence unfolded on July 7 when several agencies—including Colorado State Patrol and local police—responded to reports of gunfire at a home on Aspen Meadows Circle. As officers arrived, they reportedly heard shots being fired within the house, prompting them to surround the property and demand that the suspect surrender.
DeVito emerged and was taken into custody without further incident. Investigators say he made several unsolicited statements, claiming he had killed three people inside the house, whom he accused of being members of a cartel. He also reportedly told officers he feared for his life and had encountered individuals wearing body armor.
Inside, officers discovered Labarre’s body. Authorities said she died from a gunshot wound to the head and that evidence suggests she attempted to barricade herself in the bedroom before DeVito forced the door open and shot her, cornering her in the master suite.
The case took a darker turn when another woman came forward days later, describing a violent encounter with DeVito in the very same home just three days prior to the shooting. She told investigators that on July 4, after spending the night at DeVito’s, she awoke to find herself confined in the bathroom, with DeVito allegedly threatening to kill her if she tried to leave.
Court records show she cooperated out of fear, responding to questions DeVito wrote on pieces of paper. Once released from the bathroom, she encountered another man in the house, and the two men allegedly restrained her, tying her to a swing and slashing her across the chest with a knife. The woman said she thought she was going to die.
She also told police that DeVito poured hydrogen peroxide on her wound before she managed to escape. She explained her delay in coming forward, saying she feared for her safety in the aftermath of the attack.
Authorities believe DeVito and Labarre had previously been involved in a romantic relationship. After his initial arrest, DeVito was first charged with an unrelated crime and booked at the Summit County Detention Facility. Two days later, charges in connection with Labarre’s death were filed.
Additional felony charges stemming from the earlier assault, including first-degree assault, menacing with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and domestic violence, have been filed against DeVito as the investigation continues.
DeVito is due back in court and is expected to enter a plea on Jan. 20, 2026. He remains in custody at the Summit County jail as the small mountain community awaits further legal proceedings.