A Pueblo man was sentenced to life in prison Jan. 17 for the 2023 murder of his roommate.
Francisco Ruiz, 31, was convicted in December after a 10-day trial on charges of first-degree murder, altering a corpse, and felony menacing in the death of Heather Duran.
Ruiz was convicted of shooting and killing Duran during an altercation and then placing a boxcutter in her hand after her death to support his claim of self-defense.
The Dennis Maes Pueblo Judicial Building located at 501 Elizabeth St.
During a sentencing hearing Friday, family members of Duran expressed pain and grief over her death.
Rosemary Duran, the victim’s mother, said Heather meant the world to her, her daughter, her siblings, and the rest of her family. She said holidays are never the same after Heather Duran’s death, and wished that “justice be served” in the case.
Duran’s sister, Ariane Duran, described her as loving, caring, and kind. She said she could never forgive Ruiz for her sister’s death.
“It still doesn’t seem real. Every day I think my sister will walk through the door, singing, being happy to be home with her family,” Ariane Duran said.
Ariane Duran stated that Heather’s daughter still cannot fully comprehend what happened, only that her mother is not coming home.
She stated she did not believe it was fair that Ruiz could continue to see his family and experience life while Heather Duran would never see her family again.
“I hope God gives me the strength to one day forgive him because right now I can’t,” she said.
Jason Slothouber, a senior assistant attorney general for the state of Colorado who led the prosecution in the case, stated that the death caused a loss of opportunity for Heather Duran and her family, and that the sentence was also a matter of public safety.
He pointed out that Ruiz was not supposed to have a firearm at the time of the shooting, and referenced another case for which Ruiz has not been tried in which Ruiz was allegedly arrested with an apparent live grenade.
Prior to being arrested, Ruiz allegedly engaged in a standoff with Pueblo police SWAT and threatened to make bombs. Bomb-making materials including black powder, several liquor bottles full of gasoline, fertilizer, chemical explosives, a grenade fuse, and other bomb-making materials were found in Ruiz’s house, Slothouber recounted.
During the recounting of law enforcement’s discoveries in the house, Ruiz burst out laughing in court and was admonished by Judge Allison Ernst to “maintain decorum.”
“Sorry, that was … yeah,” Ruiz responded.
Slothouber expressed his belief that if Ruiz had not been arrested, Heather Duran would not have been his last victim.
“This conviction and sentence will save lives,” he said.
Colorado Public Defender Jonah Wexler emphasized that the allegations against Ruiz related to explosives were untried, and therefore should not be considered for purposes of sentencing in the homicide case. Wexler stated Ruiz surrendered peacefully to police and “has continued to live peacefully in the two-plus years since he was arrested.”
Wexler stated that it has been an “honor” representing Ruiz.
After both attorneys spoke, Ernst remanded Ruiz to the Colorado Department of Corrections for the remainder of his life, with no chance of parole.
A restitution hearing is scheduled for Feb. 18 based on a prior objection by Ruiz to paying restitution, according to Ernst.
After the hearing, Rosemary Duran expressed relief that “justice was done” in the case.
“I’m glad that the world has improved with DNA evidence, because that’s what got him, along with the testimony of the witnesses. (The defense) tried to discredit them, but they really told the truth,” she said.
Ruiz still faces charges in two other matters: one in which he allegedly threatened his then-girlfriend with a firearm, and one relating to the alleged discovery of bomb-making materials.
Wexler expressed that Ruiz would like to enter not-guilty pleas in both cases. Trial dates for those cases are set for later this year.
More on Pueblo crime: Pueblo man sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of 2023 manslaughter
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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man gets life in prison for shooting, killing roommate