Colorado Woman Plots Boyfriend’s Murder After Meeting Stranger on a Bus
Photo by Adams County, Colorado / iStock
A Colorado woman has been convicted of second-degree murder after conspiring to kill her boyfriend and attempting to drown and burn his cat, local officials report.
Ashley White, 29, was found guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, and robbery in the 2020 shooting death of 28-year-old Cody DeLisa following a three-week trial this month.
According to the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, White and DeLisa had a strained and volatile relationship in the months leading up to the murder. DeLisa criticized White for her inability to secure full-time employment, which fueled tensions between them. In her personal diary, White even wrote that she regretted ever meeting him.
Before DeLisa’s death, White’s frustration reportedly escalated to alarming behavior, including an attempt to drown and burn his cat. This incident raised concerns among those around her about her mental state.
On the day of the murder, White had attended a job interview in Denver. A neighbor drove her to the city, and she took the bus home. During her return, she exchanged text messages with DeLisa about the interview. When he expressed skepticism about her chances of getting the job, she became upset.
It was on the bus that White met a man who introduced himself as “Scott.” During their conversation, he inquired about her relationship and asked whether DeLisa had ever harmed her. When she said he had, Scott suggested they kill him. According to authorities, Scott was carrying a firearm at the time.
White and Scott disembarked some distance from her home, spent time together, and fired Scott’s gun before walking to DeLisa’s residence in Adams County. There, Scott introduced himself to DeLisa and White’s visiting brother from Texas.
Not long after, DeLisa was shot twice in the head. His body was discovered the next day during a welfare check.
Following the murder, Scott and White stole DeLisa’s wallet and left the scene. They remained in the area for a few days before parting ways, and prosecutors say they never saw each other again.
White was later identified as a suspect in the murder. During an interview with investigators, she provided a detailed account of the events leading up to DeLisa’s death. Police subsequently arrested and charged her.
Nearly three years after the crime, a woman came forward and informed authorities that she believed she was dating the man known as “Scott.” His real name was Michael Stratton. She reported that Stratton had confessed to the murder, and police confirmed that his account matched White’s statements.
At the time of his identification, Stratton was in custody for another murder in Pueblo, Colorado—committed after DeLisa’s death. He has not been charged in Adams County and has been deemed incompetent to stand trial in the Pueblo case.
White’s trial began on January 6, and her sentencing is scheduled for April 4.
