Aaroné's dad to stand trial in child's presumed death

Ivan Moreno, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 27, 2007 at midnight

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CENTENNIAL - Enough evidence exists to try Aaron Thompson in the presumed death of his daughter, Aaroné, a judge ruled Friday.

Arapahoe County District Judge J. Mark Hannen based his ruling on a reading of Thompson's 60-count grand jury indictment, which includes charges of child abuse resulting in death and false reporting.

Thompson's attorney, James O'Connor, said he plans to challenge the charges against his client before the next court hearing Dec. 19. Thompson will enter a plea at a later date. In the past, he has said he is innocent.

Aurora police arrested Thompson in May. He had reported his 6-year-old daughter missing Nov. 14, 2005, but Aurora police soon called off the search, saying they believed that Aaroné had been killed up to 18 months earlier. Thompson and his girlfriend, Shely Lowe, who died last year, were named persons of interest.

Aaroné's body has not been found.

The abuse resulting in Aaroné's death allegedly occurred between May 2002 and August 2004, according to the indictment, which Hannen said includes 146 exhibits, hours of video and audio recordings and 51 volumes of transcripts.

Thompson is accused of working with Lowe to cover up the alleged abuse and give authorities false information over the next three years.

The charges from the grand -jury indictment were released in May, but most of the details of what led to the 60 counts remain sealed.

Hannen is expected to rule Monday whether to unseal the court file.

morenoi@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2895

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