Man gets two consecutive life sentences

A Weld County district judge handed down two consecutive life sentences Friday to a 55year-old man who was convicted of two murders.

William Joseph Roberts was found guilty by a jury Wednesday of murdering Deborah and Ruben Vallejos inside their home in June 2019, according to a district attorney’s news release. Roberts was residing with the couple when he beat them to death with a pipe.

District Judge Timothy Kerns handed down the sentence.

“I don’t have the strength or the wisdom to even find the right words to convey my condolences to the victims’ family here today,” Kerns said at the sentencing hearing. “It’s just heartbreaking. It’s senseless to not choose other alternatives to handle the matter. Life is precious, which is why the legislature has made it clear that if you engage in first-degree murder, you’ll never leave prison.”

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home after a family member couldn’t reach the couple. Deputies found Deborah dead on the floor, covered with a blanket and in a pool of blood. Ruben was found dead in bed, also covered with a blanket. Both died of blunt-force head trauma.

“These people stepped in and helped him out, and this is how he repaid them,” Deputy District Attorney Yvette Guthrie said Friday at the hearing. “He stole two lives and forever changed their family. Nothing will ever bring these victims back, but I think justice in this case is two consecutive life sentences.”

eran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or @kierannicholson