On 2014 September 5th, 21-year-old Harrison Engelbert was convicted of the mur*er of his stepfather, Richard Engelbert, and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Key Takeaways
- Harrison was pursuing a degree in Psychology at a local community college and was a part-time bartender.
- He had a secret s*xual relationship with his stepfather, Richard Engelbert, for the past two years.
On June 28th, 2014, Harrison, a 21-year-old college student, found himself at the Littleton Police Department, being questioned about the m*rder of his stepfather, Richard Engelbert.
As the lead detective, James Cattle, comforted him, Harrison nervously shared his side of the story.
Harrison’s background revealed a challenging journey, having struggled with addiction in his teenage years.
Despite these hardships, he was set on to make a positive change in his life, pursuing a degree in Psychology while working as a part-time bartender in Colorado.
During the interrogation, Harrison stunned everyone by revealing a shocking secret: he had been in a s*xual relationship with his stepfather, Richard Engelbert, for the past two years.
Harrison was heartbroken and devastated after discovering Richard’s relationship with multiple men; Harrison ended the affair, expressing his anger and sadness to the detective.
Despite his emotional turmoil, Harrison made it clear that he had no intention of causing harm to Richard.
As the investigation unfolded, witnesses confirmed Harrison’s alibi of bartending on the night of the murder, and Detective Cattle searched deeper into his possible motives.
However, no evidence directly linked Harrison to the crime, despite his DNA being found at the crime scene, which was not surprising given that he lived in the house.
What Really Happened That Day
As the case became complex, the team, after interrogating three suspects, still couldn’t find any proper evidence to prove the m*rder of Richard.
On July 3rd, 2014, the detective received a call from the forensic lab about discovering new evidence. They found a hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector in the house of Engelbert’s basement.
Upon reviewing the footage, the team observed a heated argument between Richard and his stepson, Harrison, on the day of the mur*er.
The argument turned physical, and Harrison used a luxury belt to choke Richard. The footage proved Harrison’s involvement in the m*rder.
Harrison was called to the police station and told about the incident captured from the footage.
Hearing this, panicked and desperate, Harrison confessed that he kill*d Richard in a fit of rage, feeling trapped and manipulated by his mother, Wendy.
On August 15, 2014, in Littleton, Colorado, 45-year-old courtroom attorney Laura Mitchell argued that Harrison’s murd*r of Richard was premeditated, fueled by anger and a sense of betrayal.
On September 5, 2014, Harrison Engelbert was convicted of second-degree m*rder, with a sentence of 25 years.
The jury concluded that although a sudden burst of anger drove Harrison’s actions, the mu*der was not premeditated.
Harrison was sentenced to prison without the possibility of parole, bringing a sense of closure to the case.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Richard Engelbert was 48 years old when he was ki*led.
- According to the sentence, Harrison will be 46 years old at release.
