The Murder of Gerald ‘Cody’ Boyd

Aug 30

For this case, I watched an episode of Sins and Secrets. It’s season 1 episode 6, titled ‘Aspen.’

A ranch hand is found dead at the home of his employer.

Background

I’m going to be honest some of you are going to wonder why I’m writing about this person, Gerald ‘Cody’ Boyd, or Cody as he was known as. Cody didn’t have the best reputation.

Cody had moved from Texas to Aspen, Colorado. Cody was described as a ladies man, and hard core drinker and drug user. Cody didn’t hold down jobs for that long, but in 2002, he began working at the Draggin’ A Ranch, owned by Kathleen ‘Kathy’ Denson. Kathy was the wealthy owner of the ranch, as well as a fur store. Kathy and Cody really hit it off, and eventually began to date.

Sadly, I was unable to find a picture of Cody to post onto this blog post.

The 911 Call

On June 27, 2002, Kathy called 911. Kathy said a man had broken into her home, and was threatening her to give him some money. Kathy said she shot him, and when she was asked where she shot him, she said “in the heart.”

The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office arrived just a few minutes later. Kathy was still on the phone with the dispatcher, and met the police on the front steps on her home. The police said she seemed genuinely upset.

When the police walked inside, they found Cody Boyd lying on the living room floor. One detective said the house had a strong odor of black powder, as Cody had been shot with a black powder rifle. The rifle was found lying on the table.

Kathy told the police that she was packing for a road trip, and walked downstairs to find Cody in the house. Kathy said he was asking for money, but when she refused he began to assault her. Kathy said she grabbed her gun from the table, and shot him.

Kathy didn’t have any bruising or injuries on her. There was no sign of a struggle or forced entry. A chair had been pushed away from the table, and a potted plant had been knocked over.

It did seem like Kathy had been defending herself. In Colorado, there is a ‘Make My Day Law,’ which allows a homeowner to use deadly force against an intruder if they believe they are in danger.

Murder or Self Defense?

The police learned more about Cody Boyd. They learned that Cody had an arsenal of weapons, including high powered rifles, silencers, night vision goggles, etc. Cody had also told many people that he had been a hitman in his past life.

The police asked Kathy to come to the police station to give her official written statement. But, when the police asked Kathy about the shooting again, she said she wouldn’t speak without her lawyer.

While Kathy was being questioned, her friend, Monique Seebacher, had been trying to get a hold of the police. Monique had a different story to tell, and told the police that it wasn’t self defense.

Monique said Kathy was jealous of her, and that everything started the previous spring. Kathy and Cody had started dating after she hired him as her ranch hand. Kathy showered Cody with expensive gifts, including a Corvette, motorcycle and Rolex watch. Monique said that Kathy began doing cocaine with Cody, and soon she was swept up in his party lifestyle.

Monique said Kathy had lost a lot of weight, and would sound of it when they talked on the phone. Monique said Kathy and Cody broke up for a few months, but got back together, and continued to party.

Monique said the arguments started when Cody had wanted Monique to join their relationship. Kathy wasn't happy about this, and continued to come up with ways to make Cody all hers again. Kathy paid for a trip to Cancun, and planned a birthday party for Cody. Cody began seeing Monique, and soon told her that he was going to break up with Kathy.

The Evidence

Monique told the police that Kathy called her on June 27, 2002. Monique said Kathy told her she was going to take a long road trip. Monique had been with Cody during the call, and Cody said he was going to go to the ranch to collect his things. Cody told Monique that he wanted Kathy to see him to know that things were over.

In Kathy’s house, the police had found an arsenal of Cody’s guns underneath Kathy’s bed. They thought it was odd that Kathy had used a black powder rifle, which was an antique gun, and hard to load. Kathy had actually bought that gun for Cody for Christmas, just months earlier.

The police also found Kathy’s diary. The pages were filled with information about her tumultuous relationship with Cody, and about how she still loved him. One page had a to do list on it, dated just a few days before the murder. At the bottom of the to do list, it said, ‘load gun.’

Kathy was arrested and charged with second degree murder.

The Trial

Kathy’s trial began on August 13, 2003.

The prosecution’s theory was that Kathy wanted to see Cody dead rather than see him with another woman, let alone her good friend. The diary, antique gun, and to do list were used as evidence against her.

The prosecution also called Monique to the stand to testify. Monique told the jury all about their love triangle, drinking and drug use, and Kathy’s jealousy.

Kathy’s defense team ripped Monique to shreds while she was on the stand. They said her motive wasn’t because she was concerned for Cody, but knew that Kathy had a safe in her home filled with thousands of dollars. Monique had told the police during her police interview that Cody knew about the money, and told her to get the contents of the safe if anything happened to him.

The defense also said that on the day of the shooting, Monique had gone to the bank to check on her shared account that she had with Cody. They said Monique was more concerned about her money then she was about Cody’s well being.

The defense told the jury that Cody had a high amount of cocaine in his system when he died. They called Kathy to the stand to testify. Kathy said Cody had busted into her home high on cocaine, and demanded $300,000.00. Kathy said this wasn’t the first time that Cody had extorted her for money. A check written to Cody for $100,000.00 was used as evidence to prove that Cody only cared about money. Kathy said she regretted shooting Cody as soon as she did it, but she grabbed the gun before he could kill her.

The jury deliberated for 2 hours, and found Kathy not guilty of second degree murder.

Other

After the trial, Kathy still ran her fur business, which didn’t do as well due to many Aspen residents thinking she got away with murder. Kathy also still lives at the ranch.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m kind of split on this one. Yes, Cody didn’t have the best reputation. He seemed to have pitted these friends against each other, and was using them. He was using Kathy because she had money, and he knew that he could get things from her. I do believe Kathy thought she was in danger when Cody entered her home. I think the to do list and antique gun is the damning evidence to prove that it wasn’t as simple as a case of self defense. Hopefully Kathy truly does feel remorse for what she did. Cody didn’t deserve to be murdered. However, I think he did enter the house high on cocaine, and probably was demanding to collect his things, and maybe some money.

Sources

https://www.vaildaily.com/news/love-triangle-emerges-in-murder-trial/

https://www.summitdaily.com/news/eagle-murder-possibly-self-defense-attorney-says/

https://www.vaildaily.com/news/rancher-cries-as-jury-exonerates-her/

https://exbulletin.com/entertainment/694380/

https://www.denverpost.com/2007/11/24/mayhem-crashes-the-party-in-baja/