COLORADO SPRINGS — The retrial date for a man accused of killing two Colorado Springs teens back in March 2017 has been set after the first trial ended in a hung jury Monday.
The jury did not reach a verdict for two charges of murder in the first degree with intent and deliberation, two charges of murder in the first-degree felony murder - kidnapping, and child abuse resulting in death.
Marco Garcia-Bravo's retrial has been set for April 7. Garcia-Bravo is one of two men accused of pulling the trigger in the deaths of two Coronado High School students, 16-year-old Natalie Cano-Partida and 15-year-old Derek Greer.
Although the death penalty could still be applied in the killings that happened before a repeal was signed by Governor Jared Polis, the 4th Judicial District announced last year the option was no longer being considered based on the wishes of the victims' families.
According to court documents, Cano-Partida and Greer were driven from a house party in Colorado Springs to Old Pueblo Road and shot execution-style in March of 2017. Their bodies were found alongside the side of the road. Investigators believe Cano-Partida was killed due to suspected involvement with another gang.
Law enforcement arrested 10 people as part of the investigation on wide variety of charges.
According to a confession by another suspect, Gustavo Marquez, he drove the teens out to Old Pueblo Road where Diego Chacon fired two shots at Cano-Partida. He then handed the gun to Marco Garcia-Bravo, who shot Greer several times. Court documents detail the suspects saying Greer was only shot because he was with Cano-Partida at the time.
Another man, Diego Chacon, already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 65 years in prison.
“They were precious,” said Cano-Partida’s mother, Tamra Partida, in January 2019. “He was such a good friend,” explained Greer's mother, Heather Ferguson. “He was so loyal and loved Natalie and was there for her till the end.”
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