Aurora Man Faces Life In Prison In Fiancee's Death

LITTLETON, CO — An Aurora man is facing a sentence of life in prison without parole for choking his fiancee to death, according to Arapahoe County's district attorney. An Arapahoe County jury convicted Sterling Austin, 58, on April 11 in the strangulation of Aurora Coleman, 23, District Attorney George Brauchler announced Monday.

The case began on Jan. 7, 2017, when Austin called 911 to report that Coleman needed medical assistance, according to a news release from the district attorney's office. First responders found her deceased in Austin’s car.

Austin told police he thought she had taken drugs and passed out. "He said he was afraid to call for help earlier because he did not want to get her in trouble," the release added.

"But 12 hours before the 911 call, the police learned a witness reported seeing a man in that car punching and choking a woman," the release said. "The man drove off before police arrived."

A coroner determined Coleman had been strangled, and the evidence led to murder charges against Austin, according to Brauchler.

The jurors convicted Austin of one count of first-degree murder after deliberating for four hours, the release stated.

Under state law, the mandatory sentence for that count is life in prison without the possibility of parole. Austin is scheduled to go before a judge for sentencing on June 6.