Sketch, surveillance photos released in prosecutor's killing

DENVER - Police are defending their prior decision not to update the public on an investigation that they now say desperately needs public attention.

Denver Police released a composite sketch and surveillance photos Wednesday used in the 15-month-old hunt for the killer of Adams County Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean May. 

May was gunned down as he walked from his car to the back door of his Denver home at 37th and Irving on Aug. 27, 2008. May's wife Corin was six months pregnant with the couple's first child at the time of the murder.

The murder came while Denver was hosting the Democratic National Convention and police say many people in the community and the media had their attention focused elsewhere.

"There are many people out in the community who have no awareness that this tragic killing even took place," Division Chief Dave Fisher said.

He acknowledged police have declined requests from every media outlet in Denver to provide the public with updated information on the investigation.

Fisher announced the case will be featured this weekend on the national television show "America's Most Wanted."

Fisher defended the decision not to release a sketch of the suspect and photos of potential witnesses until the case was on the verge of national attention.

"We have been using this composite and I can't go into further details but now, it was not appropriate until this point in time," Fisher said.

The sketch shows the suspect with and without a goatee.

"Our request is, anyone who may recognize an individual that resembles the person depicted in the composite to contact us immediately," Fisher said. "Even the slightest hint that it could be someone could be a significant break for us."

Additionally, police released surveillance photos of two people who were at the 7-Eleven at 38th and Irving around the time of the murder.

"What you will see is that two gentlemen are paying for some items and they were there right about the time that the killer was running away from the scene," Fisher said. "Our information that the person that shot Sean May ran east then north, perhaps on Irving Street, which would put the shooter in very close proximity to that 7-Eleven."

Police also released a photo of a green SUV one of the people inside the store was driving.

"It may be, when they walked out of the store they saw something and we would just ask that those men contact us. The detectives would just like to interview them," Fisher said.

Fisher says police stress the men in the surveillance photos are potential witnesses and not suspects.  

Investigators are willing to pay $125,000 to anyone who can help them track down whoever killed May.

Adams County District Attorney Don Quick says May is one of only 11 prosecutors ever murdered in the U.S.

Back in August, police said the suspect was in his early-to-late 20s, about 5 feet 11 inches tall, with medium build.

At the time of the murder, investigators said the man had dark, medium-length hair and a dark-colored moustache and a goatee. He was last seen wearing a backwards, black baseball cap, a white short-sleeved T-shirt, khaki-colored knee-length cargo-style shorts and tennis shoes.

If you have any information about his case, you can give an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).