CRIME

Investigator: Accused Berthoud teen killer said 'anger took over' before shooting

Alicia Stice
The Coloradoan
Tanner Flores stands after the jury leaves the court for an overnight recess, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, during the first day of Flores' trial at the Larimer County Justice Center in Fort Collins, Colo.

At first, Tanner Flores told investigators Ashley Doolittle accidentally fired the loaded revolver he had in his truck.

Then, his story changed. 

On Thursday and Friday, jurors at the Larimer County Justice Center heard pieces of a videotaped interrogation of Flores following his June 2016 arrest on the Western Slope. 

"She kind of, like, glared at me and kind of turned away from me so I just grabbed the gun," Flores said in the interview.

Mesa County Sheriff's Office investigator Danny Norris, who interviewed Flores in the tapes, also took the witness stand this week to describe his interaction with now-19-year-old Flores, who has been charged with first-degree murder after deliberation, felony murder, second-degree kidnapping and faces a violent crime sentence enhancer. 

Flores initially told Norris that he and Doolittle were driving in his car when she accidentally fired the weapon, though he later changed that story when pressed for details. 

During the interview, Flores described obsessing over the idea that Doolittle might have a romantic interest in someone else, saying that he read through her text messages and questioned friends about her interactions with other men.

"He said he was angry, and the anger took over," Norris said Friday.

Doolittle and Flores were in his truck at the time of her death. The two had met at Lon Hagler Reservoir, where Doolittle's mother later found her empty car.

Flores told investigators they were in his truck talking about their relationship, but the conversation wasn't going well. The couple had broken up prior to that day.

Investigators found Flores the next day at a house on the Western Slope owned by his deceased grandfather. Doolittle's body was in his truck, according to police.

Norris' testimony Friday marked the end of evidence presented by the prosecution in the case. 

After the prosecution left the courtroom and the jury had been dismissed for the day,  Flores' attorneys asked Eighth Judicial District Judge Gregory Lammons to acquit Flores on all charges. During opening statements Tuesday, Flores' attorney did not argue who was responsible for Doolittle's death, but rather that it was not premeditated first-degree murder.

Lammons did not accept the motions to acquit, though he did limit the prosecution on what theories they could use to support the kidnapping charge. 

Lammons allowed the prosecution to continue arguing the theory that Doolittle was forced to get into Flores' truck initially. However, the theory presented that kidnapping occurred after Doolittle was shot the first time would no longer be allowed. 

Doolittle, who would now be a sophomore at Colorado State University, was active in 4-H, an FFA leader and was posthumously named the 2017 Boulder County Fair and Rodeo Queen

If convicted by the jury, Flores faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus additional years for the kidnapping charge. Lammons would impose a sentence at a later date.

Earlier this month, the district attorney decided not to seek the death penalty if Flores is convicted.

In Colorado, the death penalty is only an option for Class 1 felonies when the prosecution declares ahead of time in writing that they will seek it, which triggers a separate sentencing hearing after a guilty verdict is reached.

The trial is scheduled to resume Monday at 8:45 a.m.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

Learning about domestic violence:

Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse by a dating partner each year. Girls and young women ages 16-24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, and violent behavior often begins between sixth and 12th grades.

About one-third of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse, and 81 percent of parents either do not think or do not know if teenage dating violence is an issue.

Warning signs:

  • Checking your cellphone or email without permission
  • Constantly putting you down
  • Extreme jealousy or insecurity
  • Explosive temper
  • Isolating you from family or friends
  • Making false accusations
  • Mood swings
  • Physically hurting you in any way
  • Possessiveness
  • Telling you what to do
  • Pressuring you or forcing you to have sex

Source: Ashley Doolittle Foundation

What you can expect from us:

The Coloradoan will cover the murder trial against Tanner Flores in its entirety as it's one of the most high-profile cases of alleged teenage dating violence in Northern Colorado in recent years.

  • Updates from each day of the trial, including witnesses and evidence presented. Keep coming back to Coloradoan.com for the latest updates.
  • In-depth reporting from major moments in the trial.
  • Facebook Live videos outside the courthouse at the end of each day, summarizing what happened in court.
  • Photographs and videos from inside the courtroom.