Karl Aaron Bemish (DOB: 6/30/1969) pled guilty to First Degree Murder on Friday for the murder of his girlfriend, 45-year-old Hilary Engel, and was sentenced by the First Judicial District Court to mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“We are thankful for the prosecution’s work on this case, and that even though we continue to grieve the loss of Hilary, we believe this result was the best available outcome,” Engel’s family said in a statement through the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
All that knew her stated that Engel cared deeply for others, not only as a nurse, but as a daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, and mother to an 8-year-old surviving son whom she loved greatly.
On Dec. 29, 2020, Engel was reported missing to police by her father after she was last seen dropping her son off at daycare the previous morning. Her body was later discovered in her home, hidden underneath a bed.
Bemish was arrested in Trinidad, Colorado, after he had driven Engel’s car and used her ATM card to get money. In the plea agreement, Bemish admitted that he caused the death of Ms. Engel by strangulation.
“This is not a case that my office felt appropriate to negotiate,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Amanda Lessman told the court. “A plea to Murder One and its coinciding life sentence is appropriate.”
Lessmann added that she had respect for the fact that Mr. Bemish took responsibility and hopes it brings the family some peace.