Man accused of shooting pregnant wife to undergo mental competency evaluation

Friday, December 24th, 2010, 9:53am

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) — A Castle Rock man accused of shooting his pregnant wife and then holding off police for 11 hours will be sent to the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo for a competency evaluation.

The Denver Post reports that Douglas County Judge Susanna Meissner-Cutler Thursday set Trenton Orendorf's bail at $1 million. The 40-year-old Orendorf attended the hearing via video conference.

His initial court hearing had been delayed after the judge decided he was too mentally unstable.

Orendorf was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and assault. Police say he shot his 33-year-old, pregnant wife Saturday at their home. His wife then grabbed her 3-year-old son and drove away.

She is recovering in the hospital. Her unborn child wasn't injured.

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Trees need water during dry winter

Submitted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 22nd, 12:38 pm

Without proper watering, dry winter weather could harm trees. Denver Water has teamed up with Colorado State University Extension and the Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCO) to remind homeowners to water trees to maintain optimal health and to avoid potential damage to these valuable shade providers.

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Hearing delayed again for man accused of shooting pregnant wife

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010, 1:30am

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- For the second day in a row the man accused of shooting his pregnant wife in Castle Rock is a no show for his first court appearance.

Trent Orendorf, 40, held police at bay for nearly 11 hours Saturday. And now his mental state is in question.

He was supposed to be advised of charges pending against him in Douglas County Court Tuesday after it was delayed from Monday, but apparently no one is able to communicate with him at this point.

And his lawyers are asking that he be given a mental evaluation before this case moves forward.

Public defender Ara Ohanian is asking that video tapes of his behavior at the jail also be part of that evaluation.

During the nearly 11 hour standoff, Orendorf repeatedly blasted the inside of his house, also hitting neighbors' homes, with a shotgun and pistol.

And investigators say he was ranting incoherently as they tried to negotiate his surrender.

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Castle Rock man who allegedly shot pregnant wife arrested after standoff

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010, 7:27pm

Castle Rock man who allegedly shot pregnant wife arrested after standoff

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- A SWAT standoff has ended between a man barricaded inside his Castle Rock home after allegedly shooting his pregnant wife on Saturday.

A reverse emergency call went out to residents of the area after a shooting inside a home on the 5200 block of High Plains in the Founders Village neighborhood around 8 a.m. forcing the evacuation of neighbors.

A 33-year-old woman, who is three months pregnant, was shot and wounded. Witnesses say a toddler was inside the home at the time of the shooting but was not hurt.

The victim managed to drive to her mother's home with her 3-year-old son. Friends say she was shot in her collar bone. She underwent surgery at Sky Ridge Medical Center and is expected to be OK. Her unborn child was not harmed.

"I just heard gunshots," said neighbor Dina Messer.

Messer then noticed the windows blown out of her neighbor's home and panicked.

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Hearing delayed for Castle Rock man accused of shooting pregnant wife

Submitted by KDVR Web Staff

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010, 6:37pm

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) — A court hearing has been delayed for a Castle Rock man accused of shooting his pregnant wife and barricading himself in his home for 11 hours.

An arraignment was scheduled Monday for 40-year-old Trenton Orendorf, arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and assault. Reports indicate the hearing was reset for Tuesday after the judge ruled Orendorf wasn't of sufficient state of mind to understand the proceedings.

Police say his wife drove away with her 3-year-old son after being shot Saturday at their home, about 25 miles south of Denver. She is recovering in the hospital and her unborn child wasn't injured.

Police say the don't know if Orendorf meant to shoot his wife.

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Colorado added 700,000 people over decade

Submitted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 21st, 2:14 pm

DENVER -- Colorado's population has grown by almost 17 percent over the past 10 years, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Survey: Metro Denver gasoline the cheapest in the nation

Submitted by Anonymous on Monday, December 20th, 11:36 am

DENVER -- Denver drivers are getting a break at the gas pump. Right now the cheapest gas in the nation is in the Mile High City at an average of $2.68 a gallon.

That's according to the Lundberg Survey, which looks at gasoline prices nationwide.

The average price of gas in the U.S was $2.99 a gallon Monday. Drivers in San Francisco are paying the highest prices in the country at a whopping $3.29 per gallon.