An admitted drug addict has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the beating and stabbing of a 78-year-old victim, whose body was set afire.
Joshua Aaron Misegadis, 27, was convicted Friday by an Adams County jury after a week-long trial, according to the district attorney’s office. Misegadis was also found guilty of aggravated robbery, robbery of an at-risk victim, tampering with a deceased body, aggravated motor vehicle theft and vehicular eluding.
The victim, Joseph Montoya, was handicapped. He suffered multiple blunt force wounds to his head, neck and back, in addition to 16 stab wounds, according to the coroner’s office.
On May 12, 2017, Northglenn police responded to reports of an apartment fire at 350 W. 114th Ave., according to a news release. Officers found Montoya’s body, wrapped in a shower curtain, in flames in a bathroom.
Misegadis was later caught by police after a high-speed vehicle chase, driving the victim’s stolen Jeep through Westminster and Northglenn. Montoya’s blood was on Misegadis clothing.
Misegadis, a self-admitted heroin and methamphetamine addict, had gone to Montoya’s apartment to ask for money, prosecutors said. After Montoya refused, the victim was fatally beaten and stabbed. Misegadis told investigators he moved the body to the bathroom and set it on fire in an attempt to “cover up” his crimes.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Aug. 2.
