Depending on circumstances, Phillip Lieurance could be in his 80s before he is a free man.
On Tuesday, Lieurance’s defense team and Colorado prosecutors finalized a plea agreement culminating with Lieurance pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.
Tuesday’s plea finalizes several months of negotiations. Prosecutors officially outlined the potential for an agreement back in March as part of a pretrial hearing. As part of the terms, Lieurance is set to serve 22.5 years for each count — served consecutively to each other and concurrent to Lieurance’s 34-month sentence in Lyon County on three counts of aggravated battery. Credit for presentence confinement is being determined.
Lieurance was originally charged with first-degree murder for the death of Amy Ford and second-degree murder for the killing of Linda Estrada in September 2023, as well as two counts of tampering with a body. All related charges were dismissed. The Kansas aggravated battery case developed shortly after the murders.
Sentencing is Nov. 25 following a pre-sentence investigation.
