A lady in Colorado, who is 29 years old, is facing decades in prison for killing her boyfriend. She shot him in the head twice shortly after she tried to “drown and burn” his cat but was unsuccessful. Authorities stated that Ashley White was found guilty by a jury in Adams County District Court after a three-week trial. White was convicted on one count each of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, and robbery in connection with the 2020 murder of Cody DeLisa.
The relationship between White and DeLisa had become “volatile and strained” in the months leading up to his murder, according to a news release from the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The deceased frequently criticized White for having difficulty finding full-time work.
According to the statement, “White expressed resentment, even writing in her diary that she regretted ever meeting DeLisa.” “Her frustration increased after an incident in which she tried to drown and burn DeLisa’s cat, which raised concerns about her mental health.”
On August 13, 2020, White went to Denver for a job interview, and that was the lowest point in the couple’s relationship troubles. She was driven to the interview by a neighbor, and she rode the bus home afterward. According to the charges, White texted DeLisa about the interview while they were on their way back. DeLisa’s response was to “express skepticism about her chances of getting the job,” which made White unhappy.
White met a man who said his name was “Scott” while he was cycling back, and they started to have a conversation. At one point, Scott asked White if she was in a relationship with a male and if he had raped her.
“White said that he had, and Scott then said that they had to kill him.”
The two of them got off the bus and “spent time together and fired Scott’s gun.” After that, they walked to the house of White and DeLisa. Scott presented himself to DeLisa as White’s brother and said that he was from Texas. White and Scott shot DeLisa twice in the head, killing him, just minutes after the phony introduction. The two of them then stole DeLisa’s wallet and ran away.
According to the prosecutors, White and Scott “spent the next few days in the area after the murder, before Scott departed, and White never saw him again.”
One day after the shooting, police went to the house to check on the well-being of the residents. It was then that they found DeLisa’s body.
White was swiftly recognized by investigators as the main suspect in the shooting. She confessed in full during an interview with detectives, which led to her detention.
For over three years, the identity of “Scott” was unknown. Then, a woman reached out to the district attorney’s office and said that her boyfriend, Michael Stratton, was the other person who was involved in DeLisa’s murder. At that time, Stratton was already in jail for allegedly killing a 39-year-old man named Michael Hunt in Pueblo, Colorado.
According to the prosecutors, Stratton has been found unable to stand trial for Hunt’s murder and has not been charged with DeLisa’s murder.
District Attorney Brian Mason stated, “This was a tragic and senseless murder, and Ashley White bears significant culpability for it.” “Because of her cruel actions, the victim died, and now she will have to pay a heavy price.” I would like to express my gratitude to the jury, who listened to three weeks of challenging testimony before making their decision. I also want to thank our law enforcement partners and my team at the District Attorney’s Office for their tireless efforts to achieve justice in this case.
White is currently scheduled to appear before Adams County District Judge Jeffrey Ruff for her sentence hearing on April 4. The murder charge carries a maximum sentence of 48 years for her.
