Cox gets life plus 30 years in shooting death of Lakewood woman
Britt Cox
JEFFERSON COUNTY – Britt Alan Cox, 42, faces a life sentence in the death of a Lakewood woman found dead in her home after an explosion and fire two years ago.
Lakewood police arrested Cox in August 2009 in connection with the death of Bonni Gilbert Bergen, 49, just days after her body was found inside the partially burned home at 11905 W. 20th Avenue in Lakewood in the early morning hours of July 28, 2009.
Detectives said Cox broke into the home and shot Bergen in the head and left the scene.
That evening Cox returned to the residence and poured gasoline throughout the house, then ignited it, causing an explosion and fire, prosecutors said.
Cox was convicted in May after a three-week trial in Jefferson County District Court. The jury found Cox guilty of murder, aggravated robbery, two counts of arson two counts of aggravated motor vehicle theft, tampering with evidence and two counts of burglary. On July 1, Cox was sentenced to life plus 30 years without the possibility of parole.
Cox and Bergen were acquaintances and had a number of mutual friends and both used methamphetamines, according to a spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office. According to sentencing testimony from Bergen’s former husband, she was a good mother to their two sons until Bergen began displaying symptoms of mental illness and using illegal drugs. Bergen, reportedly a former National Park Service employee, had degrees in biology and environmental design. She also worked at Yellowstone National Park during the devastating 1988 forest fires.
According to testimony, Cox had two stories about his reason for killing Bergen, according to prosecutors. At one time, he said Bergen owed him money for drugs and for work that he’d done for her. Cox also told his friends that Bergen was a “snitch” after police found a stolen motorcycle he had stashed on Bergen’s property in the Coal Creek area.
According to evidence submitted at trial, Cox broke into Bergen’s house the day before he killed her to steal some tools. He also stole Bergen’s sports utility vehicle, a green Chevrolet Blazer and bought some spray paint to disguise the stolen vehicle, but instead punched a hole in the SUV’s gas tank and collected the fuel to start the fire at Bergen’s Lakewood home.
Cox was arrested at a storage locker in Westminster a few days later and police noted that his hair had been singed and that his skin speared to be burned.
Investigators said Cox told his friends he had used too much gasoline to set the fire and the resulting explosion blew him from the house.
Two other suspects also charged in Bergen’s death. Christopher White is charged with 20 counts including first degree murder, felony murder, arson, and motor vehicle theft. His next court date is August 26. Gene Abbott in April pleaded guilty to charges of being an attempted accessory to murder. He will be sentenced July 25.
