House fire victims had grown up together

By Jerd Smith, Rocky Mountain News , April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 4, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated August 4, 2008 at 1:43 a.m.

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Jeremy McCarroll referred to his friend Joey Shedron and others who grew up in this tightknit neighborhood southwest of Denver as his "Roxborough brothers," friends for life.

But that ended early Sunday when Shedron's Roxborough Village home exploded in fire, ending the lives of the two young men and a young woman, Amber Jeffers, Shedron's girlfriend.

Shedron was an avid motocross racer and well-known in Colorado's racing world. His father, Joseph Shedron, owned several motorcycle shops and sponsored racers, including his son, in events across the country.

Dirt-Bike Rider Magazine recognized the father and son duo and others in 2003 for their work in supporting a particularly grueling long-distance dirt-bike ride.

"Joe was a good kid," said Jason Geller, a lifelong friend. "Ever since he was born, he was on a bike."

Jeremy McCarroll, 20, graduated from Thunder Ridge High School in 2006 and attended Metropolitan State College of Denver, according to his profile on FaceBook.

He grew up five doors down from Shedron in a modest red- and-white two-story house but most recently was living with his father, John, in Highlands Ranch after his parents separated, said neighbors.

Those who knew McCarroll well described him as a generous and loyal friend who loved to make people laugh.

"Jeremy had a killer sense of humor," said Jake Miller, 20, a neighbor and friend. "He was one of the funniest guys I ever met."

Neighbors knew little about Amber Jeffers, noting that she had only recently moved in with Joey and that she loved gymnastics. Jeffers' parents declined to comment Sunday.

"It's all so surreal," Geller said. "Joey's mother died yesterday (Saturday), and we were all there for him. That's all we talked about. Reality is stranger than fiction. In a way, I'm glad I got to say goodbye to him."

smithj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5474

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