YOUR AD HERE »

Mortal Kombat teen faces additonal charge

David Young
Weld County correspondent
Vail CO, Colorado
Bret Hartman/Greeley TribuneLamar Roberts smiles as he is escorted out of a courtroom Wednesday at the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley. Roberts is accused of beating 7-year-old Zoe Garcia to death on Dec. 6, 2007
ALL |

GREELEY, Colorado ” Lamar Roberts smiles as he is escorted out of a courtroom Wednesday at the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley. Roberts is accused of beating 7-year-old Zoe Garcia to death on Dec. 6, 2007.

Shackled in an orange jumpsuit, Lamar Roberts shuffled into courtroom Wednesday appearing calm and collected as he faced an additional count of felony child abuse, which resulted in the death of a 7-year-old Johnstown girl.

Roberts, 17, is accused of beating Zoe Garcia to death while acting out the video game “Mortal Kombat” in December.



Initially charged with felony child abuse resulting in death, Weld District Judge Marcelo Kopcow on Wednesday found that there was enough evidence to try Roberts on an additional charge of child abuse causing serious bodily injury.

Kopcow already had found in May that there was enough evidence to take to trial the more serious charge of child abuse causing death.

Support Local Journalism



According to police, Roberts hit, kicked and body-slammed Zoe Garcia on Dec. 6, 2007, while he and his girlfriend at the time, Heather Trujillo, 16, were baby-sitting Zoe, Trujillo’s half-sister.

Johnstown police detective Kathy Halldorson testified Wednesday that Roberts was too intoxicated to stop punching and kicking Zoe, even when she asked him to. Halldorson said one of Zoe’s wrists was injured and a fracture to it was found during the girl’s autopsy. The detective said coroner Dr. John Carver determined the fracture was recent and could have been caused by a strike to the wrist.

Halldorson said that on Dec. 6, 2007, Trujillo bought a half-pint of alcohol and that Roberts was upset that she didn’t get more. Roberts started doing “arm bars” to Zoe, which is grabbing someone by their wrists or thumbs to control them, Halldorson testified. Zoe told Roberts her “bone slipped” and started crying, Halldorson said.

Roberts, who referred to his hands as registered lethal weapons, also pulled Zoe’s hands behind her head while she was lying face down on the floor. After 45 seconds, Zoe urinated herself and passed out, Halldorson said.

Roberts’ family did not comment following the hearing. Zoe Garcia’s parents were not present.

Trujillo, who is Zoe’s half-sister, pled guilty to abusing Zoe to death and was sentenced to 18 years in prison on July 2. The sentence could be suspended if Heather Trujillo, now 17, successfully completes six years in the Department of Corrections’ Youthful Offender System.

What’s Next

Lamar Roberts’ trial setting or disposition hearing will be 9 a.m. Aug. 15 in Weld District Court.


Support Local Journalism