Casey Childers of Sheridan has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Rachel Holeman, a Montana woman, in Colorado. Childers was convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping, according to Sheridan Media.
The case unfolded in November 2021 when Childers, Shantel Edlund (also from Sheridan), and Holeman, who was from Shepherd, Montana, traveled to the Denver area for what was intended to be a drug run. During this trip, Holeman went missing.
Aurora, Colorado police launched an investigation after Holeman’s phone went offline within their jurisdiction, and Childers and Edlund deactivated their own phones. Investigators discovered through Edlund’s Facebook messages that Holeman was supposed to meet with Edlund and Childers.
The meeting took place in the parking garage of Children’s Hospital in Aurora. Leo Vanbuskirk, also from Sheridan, became involved as he was at the hospital with his girlfriend and her sick child. During this meeting, Holeman was moved from one vehicle into Edlund’s vehicle, where Childers and Vanbuskirk were also present.
Edlund initially told investigators that the plan was to abandon Holeman in a remote area because they suspected she was trying to bypass Childers to contact a supplier. The location turned out to be just south of Franktown, southeast of Denver.
During the trip back to Sheridan, another individual reported that Childers had a violent outburst, admitting to killing Holeman. Her body was discovered on the morning of December 31, 2021. Police found a shell casing near the body, along with an empty handgun box and magazine. The coroner determined that Holeman died from a gunshot wound, ruling her death a homicide.
In addition to his life sentence, Childers received 32 years for kidnapping and 16 years for conspiracy, all to be served concurrently.
Vanbuskirk has pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors will recommend a prison term of 10 to 32 years, though a judge could impose a different sentence. Vanbuskirk is scheduled for sentencing in mid-October.
Edlund has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and is serving an 18-year prison sentence, followed by 5 years of parole.