This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
On November 18, 2017, the Longmont Police Department (LPD) responded to a call on Airport Road regarding a woman who had been stabbed.
Upon arrival LPD found Makayla Grote fatally wounded in the breezeway of her apartment.
Grote's sister, a minor at the time, provided LPD with the name of the attacker, Aidan Von Grabow.
Police located Von Grabow parked in a residential neighborhood and later searched his home. During the search a self-titled "Death List" was discovered which included the name of the occupants of the home Von Grabow had been parked outside of when located.
Von Grabow was charged with Murder in the First Degree, several counts
of attempted murder, attempted arson, menacing, stalking, and other offenses.
When charged, Von Grabow was a juvenile. The District Attorney's office petitioned the courts to prosecute him as an adult.
The case was transferred to the District Court in March 2018 after a week-long hearing.
"On May 3, 2019, the Defendant pled guilty as an adult to one count of Murder in the First Degree. In addition, he pled guilty to two counts of Attempted Murder, two counts of Stalking, one count of Menacing, one count of Criminal Extortion, one count of Attempted Arson, and one
count of Harassment. The People dismissed one count of Menacing, a count of Assault, and a count of Criminal Mischief, all three of these charges involved the Defendant’s mother and grandfather. Additionally, the Defendant pled guilty as a juvenile to one count of Attempted Murder
and one count of Aggravated Juvenile Offender," according to a press release by the Boulder County District Attorney's office.
Von Grabow faces a life sentence, 24 years for Attempted Murder, 6 years for each count of Attempted Arson and the Extortion counts, and 3 years for each count of Menacing and Stalking to be served in the Department of corrections.
Additionally, he was sentenced to 3 years and 11 months in the Division of Youth Services to run concurrent to the sentences imposed in the adult cases.
A plea agreement was made allowing Von Grabow to remain in the Division of Youth Services until his 21st birthday. He will then be transferred to the Department of Correction to complete his life sentence. As required by law, he will be eligible for parole after he has served 40 years (less earned time.)
District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated, “There is no sentence that could ever repair the loss and trauma that this defendant inflicted on the victims. We are pleased with this outcome because it is the best possible resolution for the victims of this horrific event and for our community. The prosecution team did an outstanding job on this case; this guilty plea and life sentence is a direct result of our team’s commitment to securing justice for the victims and the family. The District Attorney’s Office thanks the Longmont and Lakewood Police Departments for their persistence, dedication, and superior investigation in this case. The Longmont Police
Department apprehended the Defendant for this horrific murder and, as a result, prevented him from going on to harm others, as he had planned.”
