Northern Colorado mother of five killed in alleged domestic violence incident

FORT LUPTON, Colo. – A northern Colorado family is mourning the loss of a woman who was killed in an alleged domestic violence incident earlier this month.

Relatives say Valarie Garcia, 36, was murdered by her boyfriend Jesse Gladney. The two had been together for about two years.

According to an affidavit, Westminster police were called to the Super 8 hotel on Melody Drive on June 8 for a possible domestic violence incident. The 911 caller reported that a man and a woman were arguing when the man ordered the woman to get in the car and grabbed her by the neck.

The affidavit states that Gladney asked a friend for a ride and forced Garcia to get into the Chevy Equinox. The three then drove away from the hotel. A BOLO (Be On the Lookout) was issued for the vehicle.

Not long afterward, Thornton police received a call that a man had shot a woman in a car near 120th and Colorado Boulevard, the affidavit states. The document says Gladney got out of the vehicle after the shooting and asked for help from nearby drivers.

“He stopped at every traffic light, frantically jumped in and out of the car, aggressively screamed for help, hit her and yelled at Valarie to wake up and not go to sleep. It’s crazy,” said Valarie’s sister Alexis Garcia.

The incident eventually ended at Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton, where Garcia was pronounced dead and Gladney was arrested for first-degree murder. At the hospital, Gladney’s behavior became erratic and he had to be sedated, according to his affidavit.

Alexis said she never suspected her sister was being abused.

“You never expect your little sister to go through something like this,” she said. “He was everywhere, all over her social media. Like she was shining a light on him, like she loved him so much.”

Garcia hopes her sister’s story can help save lives.

“Now five children have to grow up without a mother because of domestic violence, and that is unfortunate. You know, these things happen in families and people are not aware of it,” the sister said.

Valarie was buried on Thursday. Gladney’s next court date is scheduled for September 30.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can get help through Nonviolent Colorado or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.