Defendant Convicted of Murder, Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Fatally Beating Girlfriend in Adams County

Brighton, CO – Today, District Attorney Brian Mason is announcing the First-Degree Murder conviction and Life in Prison Without Parole sentence for 28-year-old Angel Santana.  

On July 21, 2022, the Adams County Sherriff’s Office was called to a hotel room at 7330 Brighton Road in Commerce City. When they arrived, they located a 30-year-old female victim who was suffering from severe injuries to her head, face, and neck.  

Deputies spoke to her boyfriend, Angel Santana, who said he was unaware of what happened to the victim. The female was immediately transported to a local hospital. The victim suffered from multiple facial fractures, severe intercranial bleeding, traumatic stroke, brain herniation, and a collapsed lung. Lifesaving measures were conducted, but ultimately the victim died as a result of her injuries.  

Inside the hotel room, investigators located pieces of the victim's hair scattered throughout the residence, blood on a number of the surfaces, and Santana had injuries to his hands consistent with the beating of another person. Santana’s story changed throughout the evening, and he said he blacked out and wasn’t sure what happened. Santana was later arrested and charged with the victim’s death.  

On November 25, 2024, following a weeklong jury trial, an Adams County Jury convicted Santana of First-Degree Murder. On December 12, 2024, Adams County District Court Judge Brett Martin sentenced the defendant to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole, as required by Colorado law.  

“The violence the victim endured at the hands of this defendant is truly unspeakable,” said District Attorney Brian Mason. “The defendant will now spend the rest of his life in prison for this terrible crime. No one should ever suffer violence from a partner or loved one. Our effort to bring a Family Justice Center to Adams and Broomfield Counties continues for victims such as the one here. I hope one day we can prevent domestic violence homicides from happening in this community at all.” 

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Sisk and Senior Deputy District Attorney Danny Paulson led the prosecution of this case.  

To learn more about the District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, DV High-Risk Team, efforts to bring a Family Justice Center to Adams and Broomfield, and our work on domestic violence, please click on this link, https://adamsbroomfieldda.org/Sexual-Violence-and-Domestic-Violence.  

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