Adam Densmore was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with a deceased human body in the death of his ex-girlfriend Ashley Mead at his first appearance in a Boulder courtroom this morning.
Densmore, 32, also was charged with tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse, according to Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett.
The murder charge is a Class 1 felony that carries a life sentence without parole if convicted. The tampering with a body charge is a Class 3 felony, while the tampering with evidence charge is a Class 6 felony. The abuse of a coprse charge is a misdemeanor.
“This case is a fine example of police investigation and inter-agency cooperation,” Garnett said in a statement. “Our thanks to Chief Greg Testa and the Boulder Police Department, the FBI, Police Chief Joe Prentice in Okmulgee, Okla., and Lt. Shannon Mack of the Sheriff’s Office in Bossier Parish, La., all of whom were able to marshal their resources, together with several staff from my office, to conduct a successful multi-state investigation in this matter.”
Densmore remains in custody at the Boulder County Jail after being extradited from Oklahoma, where he was arrested earlier this month. He is being held without bond until a hearing on May 4 to determine whether there is enough evidence to continue to hold Densmore without bond.
Densmore, who appeared in custody at the hearing, is also scheduled for a motions hearing on March 16.
Mead, 25, was reported missing Feb. 14 along with her 1-year-old daughter, Winter Daisy Mead.
The day after she was reported missing, partial remains were discovered in Okmulgee, Okla., and later were identified as Mead’s.
Police believe the rest of Mead’s remains may be in a purple suitcase discarded somewhere between Louisiana and Oklahoma. It’s believed Mead was killed in Boulder and dismembered in Louisiana, where police found another crime scene.
Densmore was located with their daughter outside of Tulsa, Okla. The 1-year-old was unharmed, and is now in foster care.
Police said Densmore left Boulder on Feb. 13 and drove to Raton, N.M., and through the Texas panhandle before arriving in Haughton, La., on Feb. 14. Police said he then drove through Conway, Ark., and Okmulgee before being arrested outside Tulsa, about 40 miles from where the first remains were found.
While police have not commented on a possible motive, one of Mead’s friends told the Daily Camera that their relationship was tumultuous and that Mead recently had begun dating another man.
Mead and Densmore were raising their daughter together, but were no longer romantically involved, friends said.
The arrest affidavit in the case has been sealed.
Mitchell Byars: 303-473-1329, byarsm@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars.
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