GOLDEN, Colo. (Feb. 5, 2026) – Today, Laura Prats was sentenced to eleven years in the Department of Corrections for her role in the death of fifty-eight-year-old Sheryl Seitz. Prats previously pleaded guilty to Negligent Death of an At-Risk Person. Her co-defendant, Brian Seitz, was sentenced to ten years in prison in December of last year.
At sentencing, the mother of Sheryl Seitz submitted a written statement to the court, stating that Sheryl died as a “direct result of abject neglect and complete disregard for human life,” and arguing that Prats’s conduct warranted the maximum possible sentence. In her statement, the victim’s mother alleged that Prats was using the $4,400 per month that she received from Lark Home Care to fund her own drug habit and described Prats’ “cold and calculated decisions to cover up her crimes” as “unconscionable.”
Chief Deputy District Attorney Bryan Cook asked the court to use its discretion to find “extraordinary aggravation” in this case, due to the prolonged nature of Prats’ criminal negligence, and the physical suffering Ms. Seitz endured.” A finding of extraordinary aggravating circumstances allows the judge to double the standard term of two-to-six years in prison to up to twelve years.
“The pain must’ve been unimaginable for Ms. Seitz,” stated Cook. “Ms. Seitz was totally dependent on her care providers, and that made her vulnerable to being neglected.” Cook argued that Brian Seitz and Laura Prats prioritized their wishes and their lifestyle over the care of Ms. Seitz.”
Laura Prats also addressed the court. “I loved Sheryl more than anything,” she said, stating that she cared for Sheryl for seven years, and the last four months “went awry.” Prats told the court that every time she wanted to call an ambulance, Ms. Seitz would get angry. “I’m not a horrible person; I’m not a murderer. I have such remorse for what I’ve done,” she stated.
Jefferson County District Court Judge Jason Carrithers expressed disbelief over how Seitz and Prats were ever approved or licensed as caregivers, considering Prats recent drug conviction. “There’s just no oversight over that process…and it resulted in death.”
Judge Carrithers noted that when the case first came before him, he was struck by the legislature’s determination that a two-to-six-year sentencing range was appropriate for this offense. “A two-to-six-year range for criminally neglecting an individual to the point of death is insulting,” Carrithers said. “It’s insulting to their lives and the lives of their loved ones.”
Judge Carrithers found extraordinary aggravating circumstances in the case, stating that “the facts of how she died are so prolonged, so calculated, so horrific, and so torturous.” He sentenced Prats to eleven years in the Department of Corrections, followed by a mandatory three-year period of parole.
See previous media release for more information: Caregivers Plead Guilty