The Murder of Sherri Majors

Warning, this case does discuss the topic of sexual assault.

For this case I watched an episode of Living a Nightmare. It’s season 1 episode 3, titled ‘Karma Comes Late.’

A 27 year old mother of three is found dead in downtown Denver.

Background

Sherri (Donelson) Majors was a mother of three boys. At the time of her death, she was divorced from her husband Jeff Majors, but they were on good terms. She had moved back in with her parents, and was adjusting to life as a single mom.

Sherri was described as a “wonder child,” because they always wondered what she was going to do next. Sherri was also helpful, and kind, which is why she pursued a job in nursing.

The Discovery

On March 18, 1996, a worker in an industrial area of Denver, looked out the window at work. He noticed there was a body of a young woman in the alley. He notified his co-worker, and they called the police.

Detectives Dixie Grimes and Don Vecchi, with the Denver police arrived at the scene. At first, they believed the woman was a sex worker. The area was known for drug dealers and sex workers. However, they soon discovered she wasn’t.

She was properly dressed, and looked out of place. She had been beaten severely in the head and face. She had one earring, and had no identification or purse.

There were several footprints in they alley, but none matched the shoes from the victim. The police believed that she had been killed somewhere else.

The Autopsy

The victim was taken to the coroner’s office. It was determined that her cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, and that she had been killed several days earlier.

The fingerprints came back to Sherri Majors. Her fingerprints were in the system due to an arrest when she was younger.

Sherri was only 27 years old, and now the police had to notify her family.

The Family

Sherri’s mom Linda said that she had picked the boys up from daycare. When they arrived home, there was a note on the garage door. It said that something had happened to Sherri, and the number on the note was the coroner’s office. Linda was told that her daughter was dead.

11 hours after Sherri was found, the police talked to the family for clues. Detective Grimes learned that Sherri was divorced, and they asked her parents about Jeff. He was eliminated very quickly, he and Sherri had been on friendly terms.

The police asked the family what Sherri had been doing that weekend. They told them that Sherri had gotten back together with her ex-boyfriend Brian Salazar. Linda was less than thrilled by this. She said Brian and Sherri had a volatile relationship, and that she wouldn’t put it past him to do something to her.

The police looked into Brian’s background. They discovered that Sherri had a protective order against Brian. They shouldn’t have been together that weekend or even in contact.

After receiving the news that Sherri had passed away, her father was rushed to the hospital. When he woke up, they told him he had angina. Angina is where the muscles around the heart tighten and the heart doesn’t beat like it should.

The Ex-Boyfriend

13 hours after Sherri was found, the police found Brian. He agreed to come with them to the station for questioning.

He was devastated when he heard the news that Sherri was dead, and denied killing her. The police asked Brian what they did that weekend. He said that they were together on Friday, and on Saturday they went out to the bar. They had drinks and played pool, but got into an argument. Brian said that Sherri told him she had reached her limit and walked out. This was around 5pm.

Brian then told the police that he called a friend to pick him up. The friend later confirmed this. He said he picked Brian up, they went to his house to watch a fight on TV. They then went out drinking, and he dropped Brian off at home. Brian was eliminated as a suspect, which shocked Linda. She said she didn’t know anyone else who would’ve done this.

Sherri’s Last Movements

The police needed to find out where Sherri had gone after she left the bar. They went around the area with pictures of Sherri, hoping that someone would remember her.

A bartender at Town Line Pub said that Sherri came in alone, and appeared upset. She stayed for a few hours, danced, and used the payphone.

According to the phone records, Sherri called a friend named Fred and her brother Mark, asking for a ride. My heart broke during this part, because Mark said he blames himself. He said he had plans that night, and didn’t pick up. He shouldn’t blame himself. He didn't know what was going to happen.

Sherri’s friend Fred told the police that he had been at a party until around 1:45am. He said he had a message on his answering machine from Sherri. The police said that it sounded like Sherri was crying in the message, and Fred also blames himself for not being home. Fred’s alibi checked out, and he was eliminated.

The Stranger

Four days after Sherri was found, the police didn’t have new leads. The police went back to the Town Line Pub, and again hoped Sherri’s picture would help witnesses remember something.

Two women said that Sherri had been talking to a man named Chester Todd, a trucker. Chester was 51 years old, and worked at E&K trucking. According to the witnesses, Sherri had been upset, and Chester comforted her. They then left the bar together.

The police went to E&K trucking, and asked about Chester. The manager said Chester was currently on the way to Michigan. The police handed over their business card, and told the manager to have Chester call them.

Days later, the owner of E&K contacted the police. They said Chester had about $140,000 worth of meat on his truck and was missing.

The police did a background check on Chester Todd. They learned that Chester had been arrested in 1967, after he shot a man in the face, and left him for dead in a ditch. Chester was sentenced to 14-34 years in prison, and served his time in Illinois.

The Manhunt

The police searched for Chester. His truck and trailer was eventually located in Sioux City, Iowa. Chester was nowhere to be found.

Chester’s truck was searched. Inside, they found an earring that matched the one that was in Sherri’s ear. There was blood in the bed of the truck. It was tested, and came back as a match to Sherri Majors.

A national arrest warrant was put out for Chester. He was put on Wanted lists, and the manhunt continued. The FBI became involved, and information about Chester was put out to every police agency. He was a dangerous individual, and had now killed twice.

Sherri’s family was shocked when they learned about Chester. They didn’t even know this man existed. They struggled with not having any answers. Everett said he called the police everyday, wanting to know if Chester was found.

The Deathbed Confession

On February 8, 2011, a man walked into the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. He told them his name was James Diamond, and that he needed treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. “James” said he didn’t have a medical card, and when his social security number didn’t give the staff any information.

The staff told the man that they couldn’t treat him if he couldn’t pay for it. “James” then told him that his real name was Chester Todd, and that he was wanted for murder in Denver.

Detective Philip Stanford had been working in the cold case division, when he received a call about Chester. He flew to Las Vegas, and admitted he had one chance to get it right.

Chester claimed he was ready to tell the truth. Life had not been kind to Chester. He had Parkinson’s, so he had the shakes and a stutter.

Chester told Det. Stanford that he met Sherri at the bar that night in 1996. He said that he would take her home. She agreed, but said she wouldn’t have sex with him. Chester said that they began arguing, and Sherri wanted to get out.

Chester said he was drunk, and hit Sherri in the mouth. He then pulled his truck over, and sexually assaulted her. He said she was passed out, but eventually woke up. He said she begged him to let her go, and said she wouldn’t tell anyone.

Chester said he drove around again, and stopped in an alley. He hit Sherri over the head several times, and left her lying face down. He then went to work the next morning, abandoned his truck, changed his name and fled.

Chester as James Diamond was able to get a job at a food distribution center as a security guard. They even let him sleep there.

Chester Todd was charged with first degree murder, but died in the hospital before the case went to trial.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This case had so many twists and turns. Sherri was upset about her breakup with Brian, so she did what anyone would do, have a drink. Unfortunately, Chester, a predator, took this an opportunity to listen to Sherri. He then said he would give her a ride. Chester probably made a plan to go out and find a woman that night, and Sherri was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I’m glad that Chester gave Sherri’s family the answers they had been searching for. However, it’s a shame he never went to prison. I guess life wasn’t kind to him though, so there was a little silver lining to this tragedy.

Sources

https://www.denverpost.com/2011/02/10/son-of-1996-murder-victim-why-did-you-kill-our-mom/

https://www.denverpost.com/2013/11/27/man-awaiting-trial-in-1996-murder-dies-in-denver-hospital-2/

http://www.unresolvedhomicides.org/victim/majors-sherri-l/

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/11/27/man-charged-in-1996-denver-slaying-dies-awaiting-trial/

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/02/10/suspect-arrested-in-96-cold-case-murder/

https://kdvr.com/news/justice-doesnt-seem-fair-to-family-of-woman-murdered-16-years-ago/