Defendant Convicted of Murdering His Grandmother
Grandson Brutally Beat Victim and Caused Severe Injuries to Her Skull and Brain
Brighton, CO —Today, 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian S. Mason announced the First-Degree Murder conviction of John Swenson, 25. An Adams County jury convicted Mr. Swenson after four days of trial. He will be sentenced on May 10, 2021, at 1:00 pm.
On December 9, 2019, the Westminster Police Department was called to an apartment at a senior housing center located along 68th Avenue. The caller phoned in a welfare check after growing concerned because she had been unable to reach her mother for several days. When officers arrived at the apartment, they found Linda Shomberg, 75, lying on the floor. The victim was bleeding from her head and was unresponsive. Shomberg was transported to a local hospital where she later died. The victim sustained severe injuries to her face, skull, and brain as a result of significant blunt-force trauma. Shomberg’s grandson, John Swenson, was charged with first degree murder in the case.
“This brutal crime shocks the conscience,” said District Attorney Brian Mason. “The defendant’s brutality against his own grandmother was truly unspeakable. I appreciate the jury returning a just verdict in this case.”
Mr. Swenson had been staying with his grandmother following his removal from a halfway house. Shomberg’s neighbors reported to police that on December 6, 2019, three days before the victim’s body was discovered, they continuously heard loud, pounding noises emanating from her apartment. Some of the neighbors reported that the sound persisted anywhere from three to seven minutes. Through the course of the investigation it was determined that Swenson brutally battered his grandmother as a result of her expressed displeasure in his life choices. The medical examiner concluded the victim suffered a stroke and the assault and blunt-force trauma to her head contributed to her death.
On April 29, 2021, an Adams County jury convicted John Swenson of FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. The defendant will be sentenced on May 10, 2021, at 1:00 pm. Deputy District Attorney Ashley Wiener and Senior Deputy District Attorney Shelby Fyles led the prosecution of this case.
Go Back On December 9, 2019, the Westminster Police Department was called to an apartment at a senior housing center located along 68th Avenue. The caller phoned in a welfare check after growing concerned because she had been unable to reach her mother for several days. When officers arrived at the apartment, they found Linda Shomberg, 75, lying on the floor. The victim was bleeding from her head and was unresponsive. Shomberg was transported to a local hospital where she later died. The victim sustained severe injuries to her face, skull, and brain as a result of significant blunt-force trauma. Shomberg’s grandson, John Swenson, was charged with first degree murder in the case.
“This brutal crime shocks the conscience,” said District Attorney Brian Mason. “The defendant’s brutality against his own grandmother was truly unspeakable. I appreciate the jury returning a just verdict in this case.”
Mr. Swenson had been staying with his grandmother following his removal from a halfway house. Shomberg’s neighbors reported to police that on December 6, 2019, three days before the victim’s body was discovered, they continuously heard loud, pounding noises emanating from her apartment. Some of the neighbors reported that the sound persisted anywhere from three to seven minutes. Through the course of the investigation it was determined that Swenson brutally battered his grandmother as a result of her expressed displeasure in his life choices. The medical examiner concluded the victim suffered a stroke and the assault and blunt-force trauma to her head contributed to her death.
On April 29, 2021, an Adams County jury convicted John Swenson of FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. The defendant will be sentenced on May 10, 2021, at 1:00 pm. Deputy District Attorney Ashley Wiener and Senior Deputy District Attorney Shelby Fyles led the prosecution of this case.
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District Attorney Mason assumed the oath of office on January 12, 2021. The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office endeavors to seek justice on behalf of the citizens of Adams and Broomfield counties in felony and misdemeanor cases. DA Mason and his staff are dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system to better serve the citizens of the 17th Judicial District.
District Attorney Mason assumed the oath of office on January 12, 2021. The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office endeavors to seek justice on behalf of the citizens of Adams and Broomfield counties in felony and misdemeanor cases. DA Mason and his staff are dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system to better serve the citizens of the 17th Judicial District.