A Colorado man has been charged with murder after a man’s remains were discovered in two suitcases with baggage claim tags still attached.
The grisly murder was unearthed on December 29th when Denver city employees were plowing snow on a sidewalk. The crew located a black suitcase and a purple suitcase in the snow. One of the employees opened the purple one and discovered a human foot. Inside the black one, a torso was found. Law enforcement responded to the scene, where they noticed a baggage claim sticker on one of the suitcases, which was “consistent with being placed after a recent flight,” the affidavit read. “The bottom of the sticker, underneath the barcode, contained the name ‘Satterthwait’ and ‘Den.'” This led investigators to 28-year-old Benjamin Satterthwaite.
According to the affidavit, the Denver International Airport was able to confirm to authorities that “the suitcase sticker was associated with a United Airlines flight that landed in Denver on December 21st, 2020, at 8:53 a.m..”
The victim was identified as 33-year old Joshua Lockard.
Surveillance cameras in the vicinity of the body showed occupants of an SUV placing the suitcases at the location shortly before 8:00 p.m. on the evening of December 28th.
On January 1st, police responded to Satterthwaite’s apartment due to reports of an overdose at the residence. Officers located one person who died from a possible overdose, and Satterthwaite, who was also suffering from a suspected overdose. He was rushed to Swedish Medical Center in serious condition.
Detectives found what they believed to be blood on several items inside the apartment, including a black suitcase that matched the one found with the body inside. After obtaining a search warrant, authorities allegedly uncovered additional blood in the bathroom and on a couch in the living room. They also reportedly discovered a receipt in the home for a hacksaw and two-piece saw blades. The receipt revealed that the items were purchased on December 27th. Lockard’s bank card was also inside of Satterthwaite’s home.
Satterthwaite was arrested on January 8th, and on Tuesday, he was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Lockard and one count of tampering with a deceased human body.
