Body Found In Suitcases: Man Pleads Guilty To Murder In Denver

Good day, neighbors! Happy Friday! Let's get your day started off right with the Denver Daily.

Are you a local business owner or marketer in Denver? Our premium local sponsorships will keep you at the top of inboxes around town every morning. Contact us here for the lowdown.

First, today's weather:

Clear throughout the day. High: 99 Low: 66. If you're sensitive to ozone and smoke pollution, you may want to limit your outdoor activity.

Here are the top stories today in Denver:

1. A man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Joshua Lockard, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Lockard's remains were found in two suitcases in the city's Mar Lee neighborhood on Dec. 29, 2020. (Denver Patch)
2. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Colorado next week to participate in a Build Back Better event, the White House said. The visit is part of a western tour that also includes stops in Idaho and California. (Denver Patch)
3. The 6-year-old girl who died on a ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park has been identified as Wongel Estifanos. She died Sunday on the park's Haunted Mine Drop. (CBS Denver)
4. Colorado leaders are set to announce Friday a new climate corps that will be deployed to fight climate change in our state. The new program will place 240 AmeriCorps members in 55 counties. (Boulder Patch)
5. Looking for fun things to do this weekend? Here's a roundup of the seven best things to do around Denver and beyond. (The Denver Channel)

Today's Denver Daily is brought to you by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Denver!

Today in Denver:

• Colorado Ambassador Network Quarterly Virtual Meeting. (12 p.m.)
• Eat & Give: HipPOPs Dessert Truck - William (Bill) Roberts Elementary. (12:30 p.m.)
• Brothers Redevelopment's Local Social Fundraising Party. (6 p.m.)
• Football Game - Sheridan vs Prospect Ridge. (7 p.m.)
• Comedy Works South presents Brandt Tobler. (7:15 p.m.)
• Rob Bell - Paramount Theatre. (8 p.m.)

Denver Patch Notebook

• Denver Botanic Gardens: "By sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing we can intimately experience our surroundings. In the Sensory Garden you are invited and encouraged to explore your senses by interacting directly with the plants and the garden around you." (Facebook)
• City and County of Denver Government: "COVID-19 can cause long-haul damage to multiple organs. For example, scarred lung tissue can lead to long-term breathing problems, while heart muscles damaged from COVID-19 can increase the risk of heart failure in the future." (Facebook)
• Denver Police Department: "There is a difference between a child being reported missing and adult being reported missing. Detective Binet breaks it down now ..." (Facebook)
• Denver Art Museum: "On October 24, the Denver Art Museum's renovated Martin Building and new Sie Welcome Center will open to the public with a free day!" (Facebook)
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts: "The main event is here! Broadway's Diana The Musical is coming to Netflix October 1!" (Facebook)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Add your business here

Events:

• Eclectic Tunes by Grey Rails LIVE at BOCO Cider! NO Cover (Sept. 10)
• Introduction to Theater class for 7-10 year olds (Sept. 13)
• Add your event

Gigs & services:

• In Need of Temporary Marketing Assistants (Details)
• Add your gig or service

You're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Amber Fisher

About me: I'm a Patch editor covering news in Denver's metro area and Boulder. I've spent the past nine years working for various news outlets across North America, including Chicago Patch, Global News and WBEZ. As a Global TV reporter, I covered everything from tornadoes and wildfires to high-profile court cases and civil rights abuses. When I'm not writing articles, I can be found hiking, snowboarding, debating politics with my husband and attempting to be a sci-fi and astronomy geek.