GOLDEN, Colo. (May 9, 2022) – Vicente Enrique Orozco (DOB: 1-1-2000) was sentenced on Friday by the First Judicial District Court to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of 61-year-old Stevan Sandvick and 19-year-old Ivan Rodriguez Rivera in Belmar Park in 2019. On Mar. 10, 2022, a Jefferson County jury found Orozco guilty of two counts of Murder in the First Degree, one count of Felony Murder, and two counts of Aggravated Robbery.
The families of Sandvick and Rodriguez Rivera addressed the court and expressed the significant pain and loss each family suffered as a result of the senseless acts of violence. Rodriguez Rivera was described as a “beautiful kid” with a bright future ahead of him, and Sandvick was described as a father and husband that will be missed very much.
“Today we see justice for the tragedy that took two innocent, random victims from the years ahead of them, their community, and their families,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Adam Hepp. “We are grateful for the courageous and thorough efforts of law enforcement, and we thank Ivan and Stevan’s families for their patience, their strength, and their undaunted courage throughout this process.”
In the early morning hours of Aug. 15, 2019, police were called to Belmar Park in Lakewood where they found 19-year-old Rodriguez Rivera with multiple stab wounds. It was later determined that Rodriguez Rivera was in the park playing soccer with a friend at the time he was attacked.
Later that morning, a witness walking through the park near the Fallen Firefighters Memorial found the body of 61-year-old Sandvick, who had also suffered multiple stab wounds and appeared to have been robbed.
Sandvick was pronounced deceased on scene and Rodriguez Rivera died days later as a result of his injuries.
On Aug. 19, 2019, the police received an anonymous tip that led to the identification of then 18-year-old Vicente Orozco. Orozco was taken into custody on Aug. 21, 2019.
Orozco received two consecutive life sentences for the murders plus fifteen years for the Aggravated Robbery of Sandvick.