GOLDEN, Colo. -- It took eight years, but authorities have finally made an arrest in connection with the murder of Heather DeWild.
In fact, they made three arrests following a grand jury’s indictment of Daniel Donald DeWild, 39, Heather’s estranged husband; his identical twin brother, David Norman DeWild; and David’s wife,[Mary] Roseanne DeWild, 50.
The three suspects are each being held on $1 million cash bond on charges of first-degree murder after deliberation and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
“I kind of knew from the beginning that they might be involved, but I certainly didn’t expect all three of them to be indicted,†said Heather’s sister, Rebecca Barger.
Heather disappeared July 24, 2003.
Barger remembers that day.
“My husband and I were getting ready to go on vacation,†she told 7NEWS. “My mom called and said, ‘Heather didn’t come home.’ My stomach sank.â€
Heather disappeared just days before her divorce from Daniel was scheduled to be finalized.
According to court documents, Daniel tried to reconcile his marriage by bringing flowers and a card to Heather at her parents' home July 22. She declined. He left in a fit of anger.
Two days later, Daniel is alleged to have created a ruse to get Heather to come to his house, the grand jury report said. She thought she was going to sign a mortgage check and pick up insurance cards for the children. She brought her children, a 3-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, because she didn’t want to be alone with Daniel.
When interviewed the next day, the boy said he saw his father sneaking up behind his mother's back. The boy also told detectives that he didn't know why his parents were fighting.
Heather wasn't seen alive again.
The grand jury indictment said Heather was murdered between July 24 and Sept. 4, 2003.
The indictment said a witness saw three people with a body wrapped in plastic at 4 a.m. in Clear Creek Canyon.
On July 30, a bloodhound found evidence of decomposition in David's Suburban. The indictment said David was notified of the positive result on July 31 and the next day, David and Roseanne were married.
Roseanne said the marriage occurred, "So I couldn't testify against him [David]."
Additionally, the grand jury’s report states that Heather’s car, a white Nissan Sentra, was abandoned at West 43rd Avenue and Kipling Street in Wheat Ridge.
Around lunch time on July 24, a witness observed a male sitting in a cherry red convertible with a black top across the street from the greenbelt where the Nissan had been parked.
The report states that David DeWild was driving a red Chrysler LeBaron convertible that day. It also states that cell phone records place David in the area where the Nissan was abandoned.
On Sept. 4, 2003, a Colorado Department of Transportation worker moving dirt on Highway 6 between Golden and Black Hawk found Heather's body wrapped in plastic. It was badly decomposed, but dental records confirmed that it was Heather. She was wearing the same clothes she was wearing on the day she disappeared.
The coroner ruled that Heather's death was a homicide.
Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey attributed the arrests to “fresh eyes on the case.â€
“I made a commitment to Heather’s father,†Storey said. “When her sister reminded me of that commitment, I assigned an investigator to the case full time.â€
Storey said they formed a task force.
"Investigators in my office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Arvada Police, Edgewater Police and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation have never forgotten Heather DeWild," Storey said. "Homicide cases become much more difficult to solve with the passage of time. The tenacity of our investigators allowed us to take this to the grand jury. We are pleased that they have returned this indictment."
Daniel DeWild was arrested at his home on Fenton Street in Edgewater. David DeWild was arrested at his home in Lakewood, and Roseanne DeWild was arrested at a medical office where she worked as a receptionist.
Heather and Daniel's children have been living with Heather's parents.
“It’s obviously very difficult for them,†Barger said. “The emotions they must be going through are extremely mixed. We’re going to be there for them.â€
Barger said family members will attend the trials.
“It will be stressful,†Barger said. “But, I’d like to see the truth come out, and I’d like to see justice for my sister.â€
When asked if she’d rather see Daniel spend life in prison or if she believes in an eye for an eye, Barger told 7NEWS, “I try not to think about that. I realize there are bigger issues. I just want the truth.â€
Friends and neighbors say they’re glad to see that arrests have been made.
“It’s been so long,†said Jeff Muckleroy. “People were wondering if anything was going to happen. Thank goodness they finally got 'em.â€
In fact, they made three arrests following a grand jury’s indictment of Daniel Donald DeWild, 39, Heather’s estranged husband; his identical twin brother, David Norman DeWild; and David’s wife,[Mary] Roseanne DeWild, 50.
The three suspects are each being held on $1 million cash bond on charges of first-degree murder after deliberation and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
“I kind of knew from the beginning that they might be involved, but I certainly didn’t expect all three of them to be indicted,†said Heather’s sister, Rebecca Barger.
Heather disappeared July 24, 2003.
Barger remembers that day.
“My husband and I were getting ready to go on vacation,†she told 7NEWS. “My mom called and said, ‘Heather didn’t come home.’ My stomach sank.â€
Heather disappeared just days before her divorce from Daniel was scheduled to be finalized.
According to court documents, Daniel tried to reconcile his marriage by bringing flowers and a card to Heather at her parents' home July 22. She declined. He left in a fit of anger.
Two days later, Daniel is alleged to have created a ruse to get Heather to come to his house, the grand jury report said. She thought she was going to sign a mortgage check and pick up insurance cards for the children. She brought her children, a 3-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, because she didn’t want to be alone with Daniel.
When interviewed the next day, the boy said he saw his father sneaking up behind his mother's back. The boy also told detectives that he didn't know why his parents were fighting.
Heather wasn't seen alive again.
The grand jury indictment said Heather was murdered between July 24 and Sept. 4, 2003.
The indictment said a witness saw three people with a body wrapped in plastic at 4 a.m. in Clear Creek Canyon.
On July 30, a bloodhound found evidence of decomposition in David's Suburban. The indictment said David was notified of the positive result on July 31 and the next day, David and Roseanne were married.
Roseanne said the marriage occurred, "So I couldn't testify against him [David]."
Additionally, the grand jury’s report states that Heather’s car, a white Nissan Sentra, was abandoned at West 43rd Avenue and Kipling Street in Wheat Ridge.
Around lunch time on July 24, a witness observed a male sitting in a cherry red convertible with a black top across the street from the greenbelt where the Nissan had been parked.
The report states that David DeWild was driving a red Chrysler LeBaron convertible that day. It also states that cell phone records place David in the area where the Nissan was abandoned.
On Sept. 4, 2003, a Colorado Department of Transportation worker moving dirt on Highway 6 between Golden and Black Hawk found Heather's body wrapped in plastic. It was badly decomposed, but dental records confirmed that it was Heather. She was wearing the same clothes she was wearing on the day she disappeared.
The coroner ruled that Heather's death was a homicide.
Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey attributed the arrests to “fresh eyes on the case.â€
“I made a commitment to Heather’s father,†Storey said. “When her sister reminded me of that commitment, I assigned an investigator to the case full time.â€
Storey said they formed a task force.
"Investigators in my office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Arvada Police, Edgewater Police and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation have never forgotten Heather DeWild," Storey said. "Homicide cases become much more difficult to solve with the passage of time. The tenacity of our investigators allowed us to take this to the grand jury. We are pleased that they have returned this indictment."
Daniel DeWild was arrested at his home on Fenton Street in Edgewater. David DeWild was arrested at his home in Lakewood, and Roseanne DeWild was arrested at a medical office where she worked as a receptionist.
Heather and Daniel's children have been living with Heather's parents.
“It’s obviously very difficult for them,†Barger said. “The emotions they must be going through are extremely mixed. We’re going to be there for them.â€
Barger said family members will attend the trials.
“It will be stressful,†Barger said. “But, I’d like to see the truth come out, and I’d like to see justice for my sister.â€
When asked if she’d rather see Daniel spend life in prison or if she believes in an eye for an eye, Barger told 7NEWS, “I try not to think about that. I realize there are bigger issues. I just want the truth.â€
Friends and neighbors say they’re glad to see that arrests have been made.
“It’s been so long,†said Jeff Muckleroy. “People were wondering if anything was going to happen. Thank goodness they finally got 'em.â€