A Colorado man who fatally shot three of his neighbors and wounded a fourth during a long-running dispute over a driveway has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Hamne Clark, 47, was sentenced on Feb. 20 to three consecutive life terms plus 48 years, more than two years after the Nov. 20, 2023 shootings that killed Beth Geers, 73, her husband Robert Geers, 63, and their friend James Daulton, 58. James’ wife, Patty Daulton, survived the attack.
Long-Running Land Dispute
The violence stemmed from an ongoing feud over property boundaries, specifically a driveway the Geers used that Clark claimed was on his land. According to courtroom testimony reported by The Denver Gazette, the Geers hired a land surveyor to determine the correct property lines. The surveyor, William Bechaver, was present on the day of the shooting and later testified as a key eyewitness.
Prosecutors said Bechaver was assessing the property while the Geers and the Daultons stood nearby as witnesses. A deputy who had planned to attend was reportedly called away, prompting the couple to have friends present in case Clark arrived.
Evidence presented at trial included video of Robert Geers telling a deputy he feared Clark and recounting alleged threats, including a statement that the couple had “targets” on their backs. Robert Geers reportedly told authorities he worried nothing would be done until his “cold, dead body” was found.
Conflicting Accounts at Trial
Clark’s defense argued that he and the woman he lived with, Nancy Medina-Kochis, feared their neighbors. A friend testified that the couple believed the neighbors had been firing guns to intimidate them. He said he was on the phone with Medina-Kochis around the time of the shooting and heard popping sounds, followed by Clark saying someone was shooting at him.
Bechaver, however, described a different sequence of events. He testified that Clark emerged from the trees and spoke with Robert Geers. After beginning to walk away, Clark allegedly responded to a comment about trespassing by saying, “I only hunt lying sons of b—es,” before shooting Robert Geers in the chest.
Patty Daulton testified that Clark then fired rapidly at everyone present. She told the court he “just shot us like we were tin cans.”
Aftermath and Arrest
Clark and Medina-Kochis fled the property minutes after the shooting and were later apprehended in New Mexico. A friend there testified the pair had planned to visit for Thanksgiving.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found the Geers and James Daulton dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Patty Daulton was the only survivor and had called 911 after the attack.
On Feb. 19, a jury found Clark guilty of three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of assault causing serious bodily injury and one count of menacing with a firearm. He received three consecutive life sentences.
Medina-Kochis has been charged with five counts of accessory to a crime. Her trial is scheduled for April.
