Boulder police arrest and charge Jimmy West with first-degree murder in death of 19-year-old Zaria Hardy

Boulder Police announced at a press conference that they arrested and the District Attorney’s Office charged Jimmy West with first-degree murder in the 2024 death of 19-year-old Zaria Hardy.

The announcement came at a news conference in Boulder where Police Chief Steven Redfearn said detectives had worked the case since July 2024 and that an arrest warrant was drafted earlier this week. "I'm pleased to announce today that an arrest has been made for the murder of 19 year old Zaria Hardy," Redfearn said.

Detective Commander Brandon Winn said the investigation began on July 14 after neighbors reported an unusual trailer on the 1800 block of Goss Street. "Upon arrival, detectives found the decomposing remains of Zaria Hardy wrapped inside several layers of blankets on that trailer," Winn said, and investigators determined the remains had been at the location for several days. It took three days to confirm her identity, Winn said, with help from the department’s homeless outreach team and crime-analysis staff.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty said his office filed first-degree murder charges against Jimmy West and that prosecutors will proceed with the case. "In announcing 1st degree murder charges against Jimmy West, I'm glad to be able to say that the investigation into the case has culminated in an arrest," Dougherty said, adding that the charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent.

Reporters were told a judge granted a motion to unseal the arrest affidavit; Dougherty encouraged media to obtain the affidavit for details the office could not publicly discuss because the prosecution is pending. When asked whether a motive or a prior criminal history was known, Dougherty repeatedly referred questions to the affidavit and said ethical rules limit what prosecutors can say about pending cases.

Winn described how investigators worked to retrace Hardy’s last steps and interview people who might have information. He said detectives wrote and served a search warrant that a judge signed the morning of the arrest. "Within a couple hours of that, 2 of our officers that were out on foot in our civic area actually spotted the suspect and took him into custody without incident," Winn said. Officers who spotted the suspect were part of the department’s homeless outreach team, Winn added.

When asked why the investigation took months, officials stressed the case involved outdoor scene processing and locating and interviewing people who were difficult to find. Winn noted that outdoor crime-scene analysis and contacting witnesses who are unhoused can lengthen the investigative timeline. Prosecutors also said they must meet ethical obligations to ensure they can prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt before filing murder charges.

Officials said forensic testing in this case returned in a "quick turnaround" and did not identify any particular delays. The autopsy report has not been released; Dougherty and Redfearn said some details may be withheld while the investigation and prosecution are active to avoid alerting suspects or witnesses and that outside testing, such as toxicology, can take time.

A court appearance for the defendant was expected as soon as the next day, Dougherty said, and he noted a November ballot measure that allows judges, under certain circumstances, to hold some defendants without bond is prospective and not retroactive to this case.

The Boulder Police Department and the District Attorney's Office said they have worked with Hardy’s family throughout the investigation and expressed hope the arrest and charge will provide some measure of accountability. "I hope today's arrest and charges of first degree murder answer some of the questions that they have about what ended Zaria's life far too short," Dougherty said.

The arrest affidavit has been unsealed and is available from the District Attorney's Office; officials directed further questions about investigative specifics to that document.