Accused Sterling murderer on the lam for 5 weeks arrested in Colorado

STERLING – A man wanted for shooting and killing another man 5 weeks ago was arrested today in a hotel in a Denver suburb.

U.S. marshals arrested Michael W.T. Bennett, 35, near Centennial, Colorado, without incident around 5:20 this afternoon, Sterling police said in a news release. It’s an area he’s been known to travel to, the release said.

He is in the Arapahoe County jail pending extradition to Whiteside County, where he will be held on $2 million bond.

Bennett is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Joshua N. Hamrick, 39, who was found in his back yard at 901 W. 19th St. around 9:30 p.m. and pronounced dead at CGH Medical Center.

Two women also were at the home at the time of the shooting – Bennett’s girlfriend, Olivia Sheley, and another woman who police have not identified.

An argument broke out between the two men, who knew each other. No motive or other details from the scene have been released.

Bennett, who has a felony history in Whiteside County dating back to 2004, is on probation.

He was sentenced March 9, 2020, to 2 1/2 years probation for aggravated battery in a public place; charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a weapon were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

He’s also been sentenced twice for aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, and for possession of a controlled substance; having a firearm with an invalid FOID card; and for possession of 30 to 500 grams of marijuana.