A Parker man allegedly killed his wife with a hammer just two days after being released from a psychiatric facility.

James Beeker, 73, was arrested by the Parker Police Department on April 4 on suspicion of the first-degree murder of his wife, 78-year-old Angel Beeker, at their Wheat Grass Circle home. The arrest came a day after police responded to the residence for a call regarding “psychological issues,” according to arrest records. 

Police first responded to the couple’s home around 12 p.m. April 3 after Angel told a friend to contact the police due to James having a psychological episode. Upon arrival, police found the house in disarray with a “substantial amount of supplements/medications” scattered around the home, according to records. 

James allegedly appeared disoriented, pacing around the kitchen and speaking a few words at a time. He continued to refuse to leave the home and report to the Pine Grove Crossing Assisted Living facility, in which he had a reserved room in the memory care unit. Angel said he was mad at her for making him report to the facility.

Angel’s friend told police that James had been on a mental health hold until he could be placed in the room following his release from a psychiatric facility on April 2.

South Metro Fire Rescue paramedics evaluated James, not finding any immediate health concerns. They eventually left the trio at the scene.

A Pine Grove Crossing employee contacted Parker police on April 4, requesting a wellness check on the couple. Both the facility and the friend could not reach the two via phone, according to the affidavit.

Police reported to the home around 2 p.m. April 4 and found James sitting in his car near Wild Alfalfa Place and Sandreed Circle, an intersection by the home. An officer approached the vehicle, finding the man with blood on his clothes.

James told the officer, according to he affidavit, that Angel was at the house and said: “I think I killed her. I hit her in the head with a hammer… I guess I need to go to jail.”

Officers forced entry into the home and found Angel dead with “obvious signs of trauma” on the back of her head, according to arrest records. A sledgehammer with possible dried blood was found in the garage.

James was transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluations.

The couple’s friend, who called the police the day prior, stated that James had been getting worse over the past few months. She noted that James would argue with Angel and had been controlling in the past. She said he would never physically harm her, though. 

The hospital cleared James and detectives attempted to speak with him. Though he could identify himself and where he was, he claimed to not understand why police were present or why he was being arrested. He claimed to not remember anything regarding the incident.

With memory issues — like dementia — conviction proves rather difficult, according to Scott Robinson, an attorney and legal analyst for The Denver Gazette’s news partner 9News.

“Many crimes require specific intent. If you’re a prosecutor, you face a huge uphill battle to show the ‘mens rea’ state of mind for many types of crimes,” Robinson said. “With first-degree murder, it actually requires a specific intent to kill.”

There are no typical outcomes regarding cases with defendants suffering from memory issues, he added. Competency to stand trial becomes the first question asked by prosecutors, ultimately eliminating most defendants with dementia. 

“Our legal system really is not equipped to deal with defendants who have dementia,” he concluded, noting that determining the lucidity of defendants can be nearly impossible.

If the defendant is deemed mentally unable to stand trial, the charges could potentially be dropped and the suspect may be placed in psychiatric care at the state mental hospital in Pueblo. 

James was arrested and taken to the Douglas County Detention Facility without incident on April 4.