Christopher Ross Maez, 56, was found guilty of murder in the first degree with intent with a finding of domestic violence on Friday, Sept. 6, for the 2019 homicide of Millie Mestas.
He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by Sixth Judicial District Chief Judge Jeffrey Wilson.
Opening statements in the case began on Aug. 27 following days of jury selection, which began on Aug. 22. Closing statements took place on Sept. 5 after each side had presented its case.
Maez was represented by attorneys Ingrid Alt and John Baxter.
The case was prosecuted by deputy district attorneys Genevieve Craggs and Michelle Sudano of the Boulder District Attorney’s Office.
The prosecutors put forward that Maez stabbed Mestas more than 40 times and slit her throat on Aug. 6, 2019, while Mestas’ granddaughter was elsewhere in the residence after Mestas and Maez had been messaging all day, with Mestas taunting Maez and Maez not able to “handle it.”
They pointed to messages from Mestas stopping shortly before 7 p.m. that evening after Maez went to Mestas’ residence and Maez dropping the granddaughter off with family down the street by 7:10 p.m., with Maez then leaving the family members’ house.
They also pointed to phone calls and messages made by the defendant following the homicide stating he had done something wrong, as well as physical evidence and interviews with investigators, among other evidence.
The prosecutors also pointed out that Maez sent a newspaper article regarding the homicide out to several people the next day, including to Mestas, whom he knew was dead.
The defense contended that Mestas’ son killed her, pointing to the fact that he was an initial suspect after it was reported that he had found her following the homicide.
They also indicated that the investigation then turned away from the son and was incomplete and unfair, with evidence ignored and destroyed, such as a phone belonging to the son having somehow been wiped clean while in police custody.
The defense contended Mestas and her son had a drug-fueled relationship and she was threatening to send him back to prison at the time of the murder because she believed he stole from her.
The attorneys contended the fighting between the two escalated in the days leading up to Mestas’ death and on Aug. 6 she followed through with her threat to call her son’s parole officer.
They also noted that the son went back to the house multiple times and didn’t initially call the police upon finding his mother deceased.
The jury began deliberations the morning of Sept. 6.
A verdict was reached shortly before 4 p.m. and read at about 4:20 p.m., with the jury finding the defendant guilty.
Sentencing took place approximately 30 minutes after the verdict was read, with the defense asking Wilson to waive Maez’s appearance for the sentencing.
The prosecution objected, but Wilson granted the motion, citing safety.
Vickie Torres, Mestas’ sister, spoke on behalf of the family, stating that on Aug. 6, 2019, Maez “brutally murdered” her “beloved sister” and best friend.
Torres told the court she and her sister were 14 months apart and very close, and since Mestas’ death she has dealt with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
She later added that the homicide has destroyed their family “in every way,” with their parents since passing and the family missing five years with Mestas’ son and granddaughter, and the father and daughter missing out on time with each other.
She noted that the son has to live with finding his mother murdered and wasn’t even able to attend her funeral.
Torres further suggested that they believe Mestas’ granddaughter saw more than they realize, and pointed out that Maez sent the newspaper article to 21 people while they didn’t know for two days.
Torres asked for the maximum penalty allowed and thanked everyone for everything they had done.
The defense team offered no statement.
Craggs acknowledged there was only one sentence option and called it a “violent, brutal murder, ” stating Mestas fought very hard for her life.
She added the case has affected many people, the family has had to live without Mestas, and now the family couldn’t face Maez and have him hear from them.
She further noted that justice has been served five years later.
Wilson then indicated he’s been in the business since the early 1980s and worked homicide cases as a prosecutor, defense attorney and judge and has never seen a sentencing where the defendant asked to not be present.
He then added he knows Maez’s history and wanted to keep everyone in the courtroom safe, as well as Maez.
Wilson apologized for how long the case took, calling it “almost a sin” how long it took due to all the issues with the case.
Wilson then stated he was pleased with both sets of counsel and added that what Maez did is “inexcusable.”
Wilson called the sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole appropriate.
The trial was the third attempt in the case.
A mistrial was declared during the second day of jury selection in 2022 due to reasons unrelated to the jury selection involving an investigation within the jail.
In July 2023, Christian Champagne, then the Sixth Judicial District attorney, withdrew from the case and recused his entire office after a contempt of court citation was issued.
In February 2024, a mistrial was declared due to alleged juror misconduct during deliberations.
In June 2024, Champagne was found not guilty of contempt of court in the case.
