A man accused of brutally murdering a 22-year-old Greeley woman in 2022 again failed to appear in court Thursday, the third time he’s been absent in his own proceedings.
Despite the repeated absences, Weld District Judge Marcelo Kopcow said at the status conference that he did no want to “assume” that Vallejos and hospital staff were ignoring a court order requiring Vallejos’ presence, possibly attributing the absences to “human error.”
Vallejos also missed back-to-back hearings on Aug. 27 and Oct. 25. All three have come while he has been in the custody of the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo.
District Attorney Michael Rourke again reached out to the hospital seeking an explanation for the absences but had not heard back as of 4 p.m. Thursday, a representative of his office said.
Vallejos faces a first-degree murder after deliberation charge for killing 22-year-old Angie Vega at her place of work in August 2022.
Vega’s family reported her missing on Aug. 26 after she didn’t return home from her shift the night before at a smoothie and juice bar in the 1900 block of 59th Avenue.
Video footage from the store showed Vallejos waiting for customers to leave the building before killing Vega with a hatchet, putting her body in a vehicle and driving away, police say. Police found Vega’s body in her own vehicle later that day after someone reported seeing a body in the vehicle at a convenience store at 71st Avenue and 20th Street.
Shortly after, police found Vallejos walking a few blocks away.
At the status conference Wednesday, Vega’s mother — who, along with family, has been at more of Vallejos’ hearings than he has — voiced her frustrations at Vallejos’ seeming disregard for the heinous act he committed and the lack of consequences he has faced.
Vallejos is slated to appear for another status conference Aug. 18.
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