Ricky Lee Roybal-Smith, a 38-year-old Colorado serial parolee labeled “very high” then “moderate” recidivism risk, faces four murder charges across two parole stints—three first-degree from a violent 2025 spree, one second-degree from 2022. He’s accused of stabbing homeless men, strangling a jail cellmate, and assaulting a woman at a light rail station.
2025 Crime Spree
On parole since January 2025 (fourth time since 2012), early June 29:
- Stabbed Jesse Shafer (27, homeless) 15x on Aurora’s Moline St. (~1:45 a.m.).
- Minutes later, stabbed Scott Davenport (61, homeless) ~90x in the back on Peoria St.
- Hit-and-run in Denver (~11 p.m.); jailed with Vincent Chacon (36, traffic detainee).
- By 2 a.m. June 30, Roybal-Smith allegedly strangled Chacon (asphyxia via neck compression), lied to deputies about an apple choking (autopsy debunked).
Chacon’s family outraged over jail pairing and delayed release text mix-up.
2022 Killing
June 22, Englewood light rail: Attacked Meg Eberhart (age unknown) post-rideshare bathroom break—knocked unconscious (Lyft driver heard scream). Died days later; cause long “undetermined,” but charged Feb. 2025 as homicide. He’d raged at Walmart day prior, got 4-year sentence but paroled early.
Parole failures glaring—quick releases despite history enabled rampage. Another brutal U.S. case in your series; recidivism reform urgent? Thoughts?
