Dante J. Sena
Thank You
This is a very bad time we live in when violence is the tool of choice for solving differences with one another.
I pray that God will hear our offerings and show mercy towards His children who continue to disobey His teachings of love, peace and respect for one another.
We have room on death row for this maniac. Tax dollars well spent.
...Which too often seems harder and harder to say, feel and...believe....
All the Best, trussell.
Another sad ping OBM Brother. Though always, thanks....
I will also get in touch with my sister who lives in Cortez. She may know one or both of these people or have some more up to date information.
June 11, 2002
By Katharhynn Heidelberg
Journal Staff Writer
District Attorney Joe Olt is planning to charge a man accused in the shotgun and knife attack of Melissa Elliott with first-degree premeditated murder and attempted premeditated murder, Olt said Monday.
Elliott, 35, was shot and attacked Thursday night, allegedly by Dante Sena, 41, after their vehicles collided on Fifth Street. According to police, Sena fired four shots into Elliott’s Pontiac, wounding her in the face, neck and arm, and then cut her with a knife, injuring her throat and windpipe.
The mother of four remained in critical condition Monday at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. The Journal had been advised Friday by an ICU nurse that Elliott was in serious condition; however, a hospital spokesman said she was listed in critical condition Monday afternoon. He would not provide specific details about her injuries, but they reportedly include extensive damage to her face.
Olt said the first-degree premeditated-murder charge, a Class 1 felony, is a precaution his office is pursuing. "We’re not sure of her condition. She seems to be getting better, but it’s very scary. We’re charging it so he doesn’t get off the hook. We want him to know we think what he did was wrong," Olt said.
Olt is hoping for Elliott’s full recovery. In that event, the murder charge will "go away," he said, and Sena will be tried on the attempted-premeditated-murder charge, a Class 2 felony.
Olt declined to comment on a motive, but police earlier have said the two knew each other.
Elliott’s family is distraught, Olt said. "They’re very scared. They have no idea why this happened."
Olt expected to file the charges either Monday afternoon or this morning. Sena will be advised on them in county court Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Sena was being held without bond over the weekend while the court ascertained Elliott’s condition. Upon being informed that "medical personnel were confident that her injuries would not prove fatal," Montezuma County Court Judge Christopher Leroi reset bond at $100,000.
If Sena is able to make bond, he will be placed on home detention — a condition Olt said was not customary for bond. Sena would also be prohibited from consuming drugs or alcohol and monitored accordingly, and could not possess or have access to weapons or firearms.
He is also prohibited having "any contact whatsoever with Elliott or any witness," according to a court order regarding bond filed Monday morning.
The attack is still under investigation, according to Cortez Police Department Lt. Detective Jim Shethar.
"No new information has come up," he said. "We’re just trying to correlate all that we have and finish reports. I think we have a handle on the information."
The police plan to interview Elliott when she is able to speak to them, Shethar said.
Personal note from me. From what I have heard, she had had to have a hand amputated because she used it to shield her face from the bullets. She is Blind, and will probably not be able to return to work.
They are concerned about the possiblity of infection, which is common in shot gun injuries.
Please keep her in prayer, and ping anyone else who would be willing to pray for her. Thank you.
Tracy
By Katharhynn Heidelberg
Journal Staff Writer
Cortez, CO, June 13 - Dante Sena, the Cortez man accused of shooting Melissa Elliott one week ago, was advised on a charge of first-degree attempted murder charge, a felony, in county court Wednesday.
Judge Christopher Leroi read Sena his rights and the charge. Sena quietly replied, "No, sir," when Leroi asked if he had any questions.
District Attorney Joe Olt had originally planned to charge Sena with both attempted and first-degree premeditated murder, but changed his mind late Monday when he had greater assurance that Elliott, who was severely wounded in the shooting, would not die.
If convicted of attempted murder, Sena will face between eight and 24 years in prison. He could also be fined up to $1 million.
According to Olt, if exacerbating circumstances can be proven, the sentence could be as much as 48 years.
The shooting occurred last Thursday night when separate vehicles driven by Elliott, 35, and Sena, 41, who were acquainted, collided on Fifth Street, reportedly as a result of him deliberately ramming her car. Nearby residents said they heard the collision, followed by gunfire, as Sena allegedly got out of his vehicle with a shotgun and fired into Elliott's car through the windshield.
Police have revised their earlier report that four shots were fired. "There were three shots," said Cortez Police Detective Sgt. Jim Shethar.
Elliott was wounded in the face, neck and arm, and also sustained a knife injury in her throat area. She was in critical condition for several days at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, but her condition has since stabilized, according to several reports.
"She's holding her own," her father-in-law Lonnie Elliott told the Journal before court Wednesday. "But it's an uphill battle."
Reportedly, Melissa Elliott was due for surgery on her arm Wednesday, and there were concerns about an apparent infection.
Rumors about the victim's condition haven't helped matters, according to her mother-in-law, Louise. "They (medical professionals) say she's going to make it," she said Wednesday.
"She (Elliott) is never going to recover from this," Shethar said Tuesday, speaking of potential long-term damage to Elliott's quality of life and her emotional well-being. He could not comment about her specific injuries.
Police have declined to comment on a motive for the attack.
According to court records, in 1997 Sena, who at the time was manager of the Montezuma County fairgrounds, received a deferred judgment for domestic violence. A deferred judgment is issued when the accused pleads guilty to charges, and "keeps his nose clean," explained Olt.
Conditions of deferral can include payment of fines, abstaining from alcohol, having no traffic violations, tickets, etc. The conditions of Sena's deferment were not available as of press time.
A preliminary hearing concerning the attempted first-degree murder charge has been set for July 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Cards may be sent to Melissa Elliott care of St. Mary's Hospital, 2635 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction, CO 81501.
June 20, 2002
By Katharhynn Heidelberg
Journal Staff Writer
The woman injured in a June 6 shooting incident is doing "remarkably well," according to her husband.
Melissa Elliott, 35, was shot three times with a 12-gauge shotgun, allegedly by Dante Sena, 41.
Sena reportedly drove head-on into Elliott’s vehicle, which was parked on Fifth Street in Cortez. According to police reports, he then got out of his Tahoe and shot Elliott three times through her windshield.
Witnesses reported seeing him beating the windshield with the butt of the gun afterward. Elliott also apparently sustained a knife wound.
Elliott was air-lifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, where she remained as of Wednesday. Her husband, Heath Elliott, told the Journal Wednesday that his wife is "doing remarkably well. She’s much better."
According to him, doctors are working on moving Melissa Elliott out of ICU. She has undergone reconstructive surgeries to allow for healing, Elliott said. He has been informed that his wife might be allowed to return home in as soon as 10 days. Melissa Elliott is expected to undergo massive physical therapy and rehabilitation, and more surgeries may follow.
"She can speak now," Heath Elliott said. "That’s really lifted her spirits. Every day, she’s getting closer."
Melissa Elliott released the following statement through her husband: "Be sure to tell everyone in the community I’m extremely grateful for all the flowers, cards and support we and our children have got."
"We really have got a lot of help and support at a rough time," said Heath Elliott. "It’s muchly appreciated."
Cards may be sent to Melissa Elliott care of St. Mary’s Hospital, 2635 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction, CO, 81501.
Sena, recently advised on a felony charge of first-degree attempted murder, remains jailed in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
In an interview conducted by Cortez Police Department Detective Randy Matthews on June 7, Sena reportedly said that he saw Elliott, with whom he claimed to be having a relationship, as she was parked in her vehicle, speaking to another man on June 6.
Police have not verified Sena’s claims about the relationship, but have said rumors that more than one person was inside Elliott’s vehicle were inaccurate.
According to the police report of the interview, Sena said that after seeing Elliott speaking with another person, he drove to his residence on Road F. There, he retrieved and loaded the shotgun and went back to town, the report said.
"Several witnesses observed Dante Sena intentionally drive his vehicle into Melissa’s vehicle," the report read. "...Dante told me that he drove his vehicle into Melissa’s" and got out. He allegedly remembered shooting twice into her car, and the report said he smashed the shotgun into the front windshield.
"Dante then helped get Melissa out of the vehicle and onto the grass," the interview report noted. Sena was subsequently arrested.
Police hoped to interview Elliott about the shooting on Wednesday, but this was conditional on her health at the time, said Detective Sgt. Jim Shethar.
Court documents indicate that the shooting was not the first incident of alleged violence on Sena’s part. In 1996, Sena was issued a citation which stated he "knowingly and recklessly cause(d) bodily injury to Melinda Sena."
Melinda Sena, then his wife, had reported that he "grabbed her hair and her arm, shoved her arm against her face, causing pain to her lip, jaw and ear," according to court records. Sena was originally charged with third-degree assault and domestic violence.
The case was deferred in 1997, after Sena agreed not to violate traffic or criminal laws, to inform the court of his address, pay costs as directed, and complete domestic-violence evaluation.
By Katharhynn Heidelberg
Journal Staff Writer
Cortez, CO, July 11 - Dante Sena will stand trial for an alleged shotgun and knife attack on Melissa Elliott on June 6.
Sena, 41, is accused of deliberately driving into Elliott's vehicle as it was parked on Fifth Street, and then shooting her three times. He is also alleged to have inflicted injury to Elliott's throat with a knife.
At a preliminary hearing Wednesday, county court Judge Christopher Leroi found sufficient probable cause on charges of first-degree attempted premeditated murder by deliberation; first-degree assault with a deadly weapon (gun) and first-degree assault with a deadly weapon (knife).
An additional charge being sought by District Attorney Joe Olt, that of vehicular assault, was dismissed following repeated testimony that the victim had sustained no serious injuries as a direct result of the car crash. This must be shown in order to meet the legal requirements of the charge, public defender Pamela Brown argued.
A visibly shaken Elliott, walking on her own, attended the hearing, with the support of family members and friends. "Don't let him get me," she said on her way into the courtroom. "I'm scared."
Elliott was critically injured in the attack and was hospitalized for about a month.
Brown asked that Elliott be barred from the hearing, and also that Cortez Police Detective Lt. Jim Shethar be sequestered as a witness. The latter request was granted, but Olt said Elliott had the right to be present under the victims' rights law, and Leroi agreed.
Cortez Police Lt. Gay Hall, then a patrol sergeant, testified that he responded to the incident on June 6. A bystander immediately pointed out a man with a gun who refused on numerous requests to drop it. The man was later identified as a private citizen who was concerned for his family's safety.
Another man called out: "I don't have a gun... she needs help," and Hall saw him standing in the vicinity of a crashed Tahoe and Pontiac. The man, later identified as Sena, then helped a woman to a nearby swath of grass. It was apparent she had been shot, Hall said.
When another officer asked who had shot the woman, Sena replied, "I did," Hall said. Only when he had completed arrest control did Hall recognize the suspect as Sena.
"It startled me. I'd known him for a long time," Hall said, later explaining to the defense that they were acquainted through community sports events.
"I asked, 'What were you thinking?' He said, 'She was cheating on me'," Hall testified. He added that he had been unable to recognize the woman as Elliott, whom he also knew, because of the amount of blood.
Sena also admitted to having broken the weapon, a 12-gauge shotgun, according to Hall. The butt of it was found on the hood of Elliott's car, and the stock, on the ground.
Hall characterized Sena's demeanor as "very distraught."
"He told me, 'Just shoot me and end it now'.... He wanted to make sure Melissa was OK - that was his main concern." Sena complied with all requests and was calm, Hall added.
In a later interview with Detective Randy Matthews, Sena reportedly said he'd seen Elliott talking to Chuck Cotter, a colleague of hers, and that he then drove to his home on Road F, got his shotgun, and apparently searched for one more round to put in it.
When he returned, Elliott and Cotter were still talking. At that point, he allegedly crashed his vehicle into hers and fired at her before demanding to know why she'd "lied" to him.
In an interview, Elliott told Matthews that she'd been at Sena's home, then left, telling him she was going to her home to read a book. On her way through town, she decided to get ice cream, but changed her mind, and drove by Cotter's place on Fifth Street. They had been talking about their children, Matthews said.
After the attack, Elliott told Matthews, Sena said: "Why are you not dying? I'm going to kill you" - the latter more than five times. Cross-examination suggested that Sena actually said, "Why are you not there for me?" and that Matthews had specifically asked Elliott if Sena had threatened to kill her.
Hall testified that he saw a large wound on Elliott's neck, 1 1/2 to 2 inches long on the left side, which he believed had been caused by a knife. After Hall had placed Sena in his patrol car, a call came over the radio regarding a knife, and Sena responded by saying the knife was on the floorboard of Elliott's Pontiac.
Sena's defense pointed to an interview transcript in which he'd claimed to be giving Elliott a tracheotomy, rather than trying to harm her. A physician's report issued by Southwest Memorial Hospital indicated the cut was to Elliott's trachea.
The defense also cited witness reports that indicated extreme distress and remorse on Sena's part. Brown asked that the charge of first-degree attempted murder be dismissed because the prosecution had failed to prove the necessary component of premeditation. There was no proof, she said, that Sena had driven home specifically to get his gun, and interviews indicated that he "didn't know" what he was going to do.
"He admitted to shooting Ms. Elliott and to using a knife on her throat," Olt countered. "All of this points to a murder which fortunately didn't happen."
Leroi cited legal precedent that allows juries to infer presumption from the attempt itself and from use of a deadly weapon. "In this case, a reasonable person could find that Mr. Sena's (actions) ... show a deliberation," Leroi said, and bound Sena over for arraignment in district court at 9 a.m. Aug. 8.
By Katharhynn Heidelberg
Journal Staff Writer
Cortez, CO, Sept. 23 - A Cortez man accused of shooting a woman three times is ready to place his fate in the hands of a jury.
Dante Sena, 41, charged with attempted first-degree murder, pleaded not guilty in district court Thursday. His defense attorneys, Pamela Brown and John Baxter of the public defender's office, entered the not-guilty plea in part because there had been little communication with the District Attorney's office by way of a possible plea agreement.
Sena was arrested at the scene of a June 6 shooting that left Melissa Elliott, 35, near death. The incident began when Sena allegedly rammed his vehicle into Elliott's head-on as it was parked on Fifth Street between Market and Chestnut.
According to police reports, Sena exited his vehicle and fired three shots with a 12-gauge shotgun, striking Elliott in the face, neck and arm.
A woman living in a nearby apartment, one of many witnesses, said she saw a man, later identified as Sena, smash the butt of his gun against the windshield "with a passion I can't even describe." She opined that he then seemed overcome, "like he couldn't believe it."
Sena then allegedly removed Elliott from the vehicle and cut at her throat area with a knife. He indicated to police investigators that he had allegedly cut Elliott's throat because she complained she couldn't breathe and he was trying to perform a tracheotomy. Brown introduced at a subsequent court appearance a physician's report, which she said substantiated this explanation.
Police reports and testimony indicated that Sena and Elliott knew each other very well. Sena told detectives on June 7 that he had seen Elliott talking with a second man on Fifth Street, whereupon he drove to his residence on County Road F, retrieved his shotgun, loaded it and drove back into town.
District Attorney Joe Olt originally charged Sena with both first-degree premeditated murder and attempted premeditated murder. However, Elliott, who spent several weeks at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, surviving, and the premeditated murder charge was dropped.
Elliott, who faces a long recovery and several more surgeries, was present for Sena's preliminary hearing in July despite an attempt by Brown to have her barred from the courtroom. On Wednesday, she was present again and visibly upset before court as she repeatedly asked, "What if he gets off?"
If convicted on the attempted murder charge, Sena could be sentenced to as many as 24 years in prison and fined up to $1 million. Should aggravated circumstances be proven, he could spend as many as 48 years behind bars.
Sena's trial has been set for March 4, 2003, with a readiness hearing slated for Feb. 17, 2003, at 11:30 a.m.