Monster (41 page)

Searching Eerebout’s car, the police found a spent shell casing and fifty rounds of .38-caliber ammunition. The two large bundles on the other side of the fence contained more than twenty pounds of marijuana.

Scott Richardson was asleep at home when Detective Mike Powell called at 3:30. “Sorry to call so early,” said Powell, “but thought you’d want to know that we arrested Byron Eerebout an hour ago for felony assault.”

There was no danger that Richardson would be put off by the early morning telephone call. He’d left instructions that if the Eerebout boys turned up on
any
crime reports, he wanted to be notified as soon as possible. The idea of honor among thieves and convict loyalty usually lasted about as long as it took one of these punks to get in trouble. He knew Byron wasn’t the sort to stay out of trouble long, and when he messed up, Richardson wanted to be there to put the screws to him.

Eerebout was already on probation for forgery. And the Golden Police Department’s drug task force had been working for months to nail him for dealing marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms. An informant, who had sold the white Pontiac to Byron for cash and marijuana, was close to making a buy for the police.

But this was even better, Richardson thought. Felony assault was worth a lot of years in the joint. He was soon dressed and on his way to the house where Byron Eerebout and his friends were in custody. After the frustrations of the past few months, the detective dared hope that at last he was getting a real break.

Following Debrah Snider’s confession, the task force had checked out several possible gravesites east on Interstate 70. In particular, they had searched several suspicious areas near stone historical markers. But there was nothing. More flights over Empire using the FLIR system were just as fruitless.

Cher Elder, 20, shortly before she disappeared in March 1993.

(
Photo courtesy Rhonda Edwards
)

Thomas Luther, 38, after his extradition to Colorado in April 1995 to face charges of murdering Cher Elder.

(
Photo courtesy Lakewood, Colorado Police Department
)

On the night of her death, after an argument with former boyfriend Byron Eerebout, Cher Elder left Eerebout’s apartment with Luther.

 (
Photo courtesy Lakewood, Colorado Police Department
)

J.D. Eerebout, one of Byron’s younger brothers, drove Luther to Empire, Colorado to check on Cher Elder’s grave when Luther feared police had discovered it. (
Photo courtesy Lakewood, Colorado Police Department
)

Police correctly suspected Dennis “Southy” Healey and the Eerebouts knew more about Luther’s connection to Cher Elder’s death than they had originally admitted. Healey testified he drove Luther close to the gravesite so Luther could bury the body deeper.

 (
Photo courtesy Lakewood, Colorado Police Department
)

Nearly two weeks after she disappeared, Cher Elder’s Honda Accord was discovered in a grocery store parking lot within easy walking distance of Byron Eerebout’s apartment.

 (
Photo courtesy Lakewood, Colorado Police Department
)

The interior of Luther’s Blue Geo Metro revealed a stain on the back seat. According to Luther, Elder vomited after sex in the front seat, however police determined the stain’s location was inconsistent with his story. Tests showed the dirt on the shovel was consistent with soil from Elder’s grave, but could not prove it was identical.

 (
Photo courtesy Lakewood, Colorado Police Department
)

Aerial view of Cher Elder’s gravesite near the old mining town of Empire in the mountains west of Denver. Unlike most killers, Luther carried his victim’s body uphill rather than downhill, hindering the police investigation.

(
Photo courtesy Lakewood
,
Colorado Police Department
)

The burial site as found by Detective Scott Richardson.

(
Photo courtesy Lakewood, Colorado Police Department
)