Update: Suspect faces eight felony charges in Kimberlee Graves murder case

Update, Jan. 24: Suspect makes first court appearance in Kimberlee Graves murder case

Authorities on Wednesday arrested a 30-year-old man who they say sexually assaulted and fatally strangled Kimberlee Graves, the Fort Collins woman reported missing in early December.

Khalid White, 30, was charged Thursday with eight felonies: first-degree murder after deliberation, two counts of felony murder, sexual assault with a weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, robbery, tampering with a deceased human body, identity theft and motor vehicle theft.

All charges are listed in court documents as having an offense date of Dec. 4 and are related to Graves' death. 

In Colorado, a suspect can be charged with felony murder if another person dies while the suspect is in the process of committing certain felonies. In this case, the robbery and sexual assault charges would each meet the criteria for a count of felony murder. 

Graves was last seen at her Akin Avenue home Dec. 4, and a park ranger discovered her body in Lory State Park last week. The Larimer County Coroner's Office ruled her death a homicide by blunt force head injuries and manual strangulation. 

Police said they learned early on in the case that White was acquainted with Graves and might have information about her disappearance, though they didn't specify in a news release when they learned that information.

White missed a probation appointment Dec. 14, and detectives learned he left Colorado on a commercial bus, according to the news release.

He was arrested in West Wendover, Nevada, on Dec. 20, and arresting officers discovered that he was in possession of Graves' identification and other personal items. West Wendover is a town of about 4,200 just west of Nevada's border with Utah.

Fort Collins police detectives traveled to Nevada to interview White, according to the news release.

Police said they suspect Graves was killed Dec. 4 or 5.

On Dec. 10, a friend reported that Graves' central Fort Collins home had been ransacked. On Thursday, police said they believe the damage to her home occurred after she disappeared because other people had access to the residence. Police did not release details on who they believe trashed Graves' home or whether charges will be filed. 

Police discovered Graves' car abandoned in the parking garage under the former Safeway at College Avenue and Mulberry Street on Dec. 13. They later announced that someone, whom they didn't identify, had been using Graves' car. On Dec. 19, police said they did not believe the person using her car was related to Graves' disappearance.

They did not clarify Thursday whether the motor vehicle theft charge against White is related to Graves' abandoned vehicle.

Other details about the case were unavailable, as White's arrest documents are sealed to the public.

Police declined to answer questions about their search for Graves, including when they learned she died, the nature of Graves' relationship with White, additional evidence or possible motives, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

"Based on the information we had, we did everything we could (to locate Graves)," Fort Collins Interim Chief of Police Terry Jones said. He added that Graves lived an "at-risk lifestyle," which he said affected the investigation.

"The officers that handled this case received a lot of non-consistent and conflicting witness statements," Jones said. 

On Thursday afternoon, White made a brief appearance via video at the Larimer County Justice Center. He was dressed in a red jumpsuit, which denotes a maximum security inmate. 

Deputy District Attorney Robert Axmacher described White as a flight risk, noting that he missed his probation appointment and was going to take a bus from Nevada to California before he was arrested.

White is being held without bond in the Larimer County Jail. He's due for a first appearance in the case at the Larimer County Justice Center on Wednesday. 

White was also arrested on a charge of negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury in an unrelated case from last year. He pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor child abuse charges in October at the Larimer County Justice Center.

On the felony charge, he was given a four-year deferred sentence. On the misdemeanor charge, he was sentenced to 60 days in jail. He had already served that time pre-sentence, and was credited for time served. 

On a deferred sentence, the guilty plea is not entered and sentencing is delayed — or deferred — until successful completion of a probationary period. If any condition of the deferred sentence is violated during the probationary period, the agreement can be revoked, at which point the guilty plea will be entered and sentencing will follow.

Police said in that case White and the mother of their 3-month-old daughter brought the baby to Poudre Valley Hospital with a fractured arm Aug. 28, 2016. White later told investigators the baby had an upset stomach and required diaper changes throughout the night, according to arrest documents.

He told investigators he flipped the baby onto her side so he could bundle her, and he said it was possible he used too much force. He told investigators he was frustrated but was "pretty sure he didn't do it hard enough to break" her arm, according to arrest documents. A team at the Kempe Center at the Children's Hospital of Colorado later reviewed the case and concluded that White's description of bundling the baby could have caused the fracture.

Court records show White pleaded guilty to careless driving in March 2015 in El Paso County and disorderly conduct in 2011 in Pennsylvania. 

The investigation into Graves' homicide is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Fort Collins Police at 970-416-2825 or tipsline@fcgov.com. People can also contact Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or stopcriminals.org.

Graves' family members and friends described her as sweet and kind, as well as a loving mother. Graves had a 16-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. Police previously confirmed Graves’ children are safe and had been living with other relatives for some time when Graves disappeared.

"They were her world, and she was ours," Graves' mother, E.C. Waller, said previously. "Beautiful inside and out."

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.

Reporter Cassa Niedringhaus covers breaking news for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter: @CassaMN. Reporter Saja Hindi contributed to this report.

Timeline

Dec. 4: Kimberlee Graves is last seen at her central Fort Collins home in the evening.

Dec. 5: Police believe Graves is killed either late Dec. 4 or early Dec. 5.

Dec. 8: A friend requests a welfare check from police. Police check her home, but no one answers the door and her car is gone. Police do not enter the residence on this date. Graves' friend Joe Feiereisen said he and and five others enter Graves' home and notice the is door broken and the house is a mess.

Dec. 10: A friend enters Graves’ home and reports to police the home has been ransacked. Feiereisen and police confirm damage is worse than two days prior. Police do a protective sweep of the residence.

Dec. 13: Police find Graves’ vehicle in a parking garage under the former Safeway at College Avenue and Mulberry Street.

Dec. 14: Khalid White, who is later arrested on suspicion of killing Graves, misses a probation appointment.

Dec. 18: Police make their first public statement in the case, announcing Graves’ disappearance and seeking the public’s help in getting information about her whereabouts.

Dec. 19: Police announce they’re continuing to investigate but are encountering difficulties in reaching Graves' friends and associates, many of whom police say are in unstable living situations. They also announce someone used Graves’ car for several days, but they do not believe the person is connected to her disappearance. This announcement comes six days after the vehicle is discovered.

Dec. 20: White is arrested in West Wendover, Nevada, and arresting officers find he is in possession of Graves’ identification and other personal items. Fort Collins police travel to Nevada to interview White.

Jan. 9: A ranger discovers Graves' body in Lory State Park, west of Fort Collins.

Jan. 11: Police announce Graves' death and that her death has been ruled a homicide by the Larimer County Coroner's Office.

Jan. 17: White is transported back to Colorado via the Albany County Jail in Wyoming and booked into the Larimer County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder after deliberation, felony murder, tampering with a deceased human body, sexual assault and identity theft.

Jan. 18: Police announce the arrest of White in connection with Graves' death.

Watch more: Fort Collins police discuss arrest in Kimberlee Graves murder