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Homicide case scheduled for arraignment

Matt Stensland







— One of Routt County’s three homicide cases proceeded through the court system Tuesday.

Cole Pollard, 22, was supposed to have a preliminary hearing. Instead, he chose to waive his right to that hearing.

Pollard is now scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. May 24. During arraignments, a defendant typically pleads guilty or not guilty. Trial dates are then chosen.



Pollard is accused of murdering Patricia Richmond at a home in North Routt County. Richmond’s body was found June 29, and a manhunt ensued.

Pollard was arrested July 1 after Routt County Sheriff’s Office deputies found him at a campsite in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area.



Court records show Pollard told deputies he “snapped,” choked Patricia Richmond to death and then raped her.

Pollard has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and theft.

Routt County Sheriff Garrett Wiggins has said Pollard was a troubled young man who possibly made a series of decisions that ultimately led to the death Richmond.

“We have received information during this investigation that he may have made some suicidal statements earlier,” Wiggins said in July. “He was having some issues with just life in general. He was unemployed. Just things were not going his way.”

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


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