Colorado Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Air Force Veteran in DUI Incident
A Colorado man convicted of taking the life of an Air Force veteran while intoxicated will face life imprisonment, following a verdict of first-degree murder.
Fifty-seven-year-old Paul Stephenson, residing in Castle Rock, was found guilty in April of killing U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matt Anderson and injuring his four children when he crashed his truck into their vehicle while driving under the influence in August 2024. The court sentenced Stephenson to life in prison along with an additional 92 years.
The fatal incident occurred as Anderson was stopped at a 7-Eleven gas station after attending the Douglas County Fair with his family. His wife had just entered the store when Stephenson’s Chevy Silverado collided with their car.
In the courtroom, Stephenson confessed to consuming a bottle of Fireball whiskey along with two beers before getting behind the wheel. His blood alcohol content was reported to be 2.5 times over the legal threshold.
This incident marked Stepehnson’s third DUI conviction, leading to the first-degree murder charge. District Attorney George Brauchler emphasized the prosecution’s intention to “send a message” to deter drunk driving in Douglas County.
Brauchler described the timing of the sentence as a “bitter coincidence,” given that it occurred the day before July Fourth, a day meant for celebrating national independence.
“It is a bitter irony that we must face the loss of one of America’s great patriots—killed not by an enemy, but through the reckless actions of a fellow citizen,” he stated, expressing that the harsh punishment was necessary to prevent future tragedies.
Brauchler noted that Douglas County has one of the toughest stances on DUI offenses compared to other jurisdictions in the region.
Following the verdict, Anderson’s father mentioned it brought “a small amount of closure” to their family and expressed gratitude towards the agencies involved in the judicial process.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Nate Marsh praised the jury’s decision, underscoring the seriousness of driving while impaired. “Stephenson displayed a blatant indifference to human life. This was first-degree murder due to extreme disregard, and the life sentence guarantees he cannot harm another family,” Marsh stated.
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