Adams County, Colo.— A Colorado woman faces a conviction for second-degree murder alongside charges of conspiracy and robbery following the fatal shooting of her boyfriend in 2020. Ashley White, 29, was found guilty after a three-week trial that revealed a pattern of escalating tension and bizarre behavior, including attempts to harm her boyfriend’s pet cat.
The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office reported that the relationship between White and the victim, Cody DeLisa, 28, had grown increasingly strained in the months prior to his death. DeLisa had been critical of White’s inability to secure full-time employment, a factor which fueled frequent and heated arguments.
White’s frustrations culminated in acts of cruelty towards DeLisa’s cat, as she first attempted to drown and later to burn the animal. These incidents had alarmed those around her, raising concerns about her mental health. In her personal diary, White expressed regret over having met DeLisa, an indication of her deteriorating emotional state.
The circumstances leading to the murder unfolded when White, after attending a job interview in Denver, encountered a man named Scott on her bus ride home. During their conversation, Scott proposed killing DeLisa after White confided her troubles in the relationship. Scott, who was armed, and White formed a fleeting alliance based on this sinister pact.
Upon returning to her home in Adams County, White and Scott confronted DeLisa. The encounter ended with DeLisa being shot twice in the head. His body was discovered the next day during a welfare check initiated by concerned acquaintances.
After DeLisa’s death, White and Scott appropriated his wallet and remained in the vicinity for several days before parting ways. The duo never reunited, but their brief collaboration left a lasting impact.
As the investigation unfolded, White was apprehensively cooperative, providing investigators with a detailed recounting of the events that led to DeLisa’s death. The breakthrough in the case came three years later, when a woman dating a man named Michael Stratton—previously known as Scott—contacted police. She reported that Stratton had confessed to the murder, a confession that corroborated White’s account.
Stratton, however, encountered legal troubles of his own. At the time of his identification, he was already detained for a separate murder in Pueblo, Colorado. Despite the confession and supporting evidence from White’s statements, Stratton was declared incompetent to stand trial in the Pueblo case and has not been charged in connection with DeLisa’s death.
White’s trial commenced on January 6, with her sentencing scheduled for April 4. The case highlights not only the tragic demise of a troubled relationship but also serves as a grim reminder of how quickly intentions can escalate into lethal actions.