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15 Jul, 2025
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Stepdaughter of Berkshire District Attorney identified as homicide victim in Colorado
@Source: berkshireeagle.com
PITTSFIELD — A woman killed in a small Colorado mountain town has been identified as Jordan Elizabeth LaBarre, the stepdaughter of Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. LaBarre, 32, lived in Breckenridge, Colo., for most of her adult life. She was a graduate of St. Joseph's High School in Pittsfield and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. Her mother, Joann Shugrue, a caseworker for U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, has been married to Timothy Shugrue for more than two decades. At about 6:20 p.m. on July 7, law enforcement responded to a report of gunfire in a home on Aspen Meadows Circle in Blue River, Colo. The residential community is located just outside of Breckenridge, a high-altitude town home to one of the country's most popular ski resorts. Police surrounded the residence and heard more gunshots when they arrived, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. They ordered the home's occupant to come outside and Daniel Joseph DeVito, 46, came out and surrendered to officers. LaBarre was found dead inside the residence. Authorities have not publicly revealed a possible motive or details about the circumstances of her killing. Her brother, Joshua LaBarre, established a GoFundMe to assist with the costs associated with transportation and burial in Pittsfield. He wrote that LaBarre's "life was tragically taken in an act of domestic violence." Money raised will also go to supporting domestic violence charities and survivors. "Jordan was a bright light—compassionate, hardworking, and deeply devoted to those she loved. She was a fierce friend, a loving daughter and sister, and the kind of person who made everyone feel welcome," he wrote. DeVito initially was arrested on charges authorities said were "unrelated" to the homicide. According to local newspaper Steamboat Pilot & Today, DeVito was charged with multiple offenses related to a previous assault on another woman. A prosecutor said DeVito committed a violent and coercive assault against that victim as part of a "crime spree" that also involved LaBarre's murder, the paper reported. The woman involved in the alleged previous assault told authorities that DeVito owned multiple firearms. On Wednesday, authorities brought a first-degree murder charge against DeVito in connection with LaBarre's death, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said. DeVito was ordered held in lieu of posting $2.5 million cash bond at a subsequent court hearing. DeVito appeared for another court hearing via videoconference from jail on Monday, when the parties discussed procedural steps in the court process. He is due back in court on July 28. The Berkshire District Attorney's Office declined to comment for this story. After LaBarre moved to the Berkshires with her mother and brother, their family expanded with the addition of her stepfather, Timothy Shugrue, and stepsister Caitlin Shugrue, according to her obituary. LaBarre traveled after earning her bachelor's degree and settled in Breckenridge. According to her obituary, she cheered for Boston sports teams and was a lover of the outdoors, relishing hiking, camping, paddleboarding and snowboarding, and had summited Colorado's highest peaks. She played multiple sports in high school — softball, basketball and golf — and continued participating in a range of athletics in adulthood, including pickup hockey and volleyball. LaBarre's father, Kenneth E. LaBarre, died in 2010. Regardless of the distance between Breckenridge and the Berkshires, her obituary said LaBarre shared an "unbreakable bond" with her mother and remained close to her family. She worked at Ollie's Pub & Grub in Breckenridge and Jess' Cleaning Service. "But her real joy in Colorado came from her Breckenridge family and her beloved dog Lincoln, her constant and loyal companion," her obituary said. With a population of about 5,000 residents, Breckenridge is nestled within the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and attracts people who stay for either a few seasons or put down roots, said Barrie Stimson, a member of Blue River's Board of Trustees. "Most people move here from somewhere else," he said. Only 877 people lived in Blue River in 2020, according to the U.S. Census. It has its own police department as well as other municipal agencies, but shares a post office with Breckenridge, Stimson said. DeVito's property at 125 Aspen Meadows Circle is valued at approximately $1.8 million, according to town property records. He also owns a small manufacturing business, according to Moody's, which provides business data and information. Stimson said LaBarre's killing has shocked Blue River, which he said is "not a high-crime community." "It's not something that happens every day here," he said. He didn't know LaBarre or DeVito personally, but said her passing has rippled through the community and left many in mourning. In a statement posted to Facebook, Blue River Police Chief David Close acknowledged the impact of LaBarre's killing on the small community and extended condolences to her family and friends. He said the department "believes that this event is a once-off incident, and our community is a safe place to live." "Our shared determination will lead us toward healing, preserving what we hold dear and fortifying our sense of security and peace," Close wrote. He did not respond to a request for comment.
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