GREELEY, Colo — A woman who pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of a man who was stabbed before his home was set on fire in Greeley in 2021 was sentenced Monday for her role in the crime.
Hosanna Varela was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Christopher Dickerson. In November, she pleaded guilty to arson, tampering with a deceased human body, and accessory to a crime. A burglary charge was also dismissed as part of the plea.
On Monday, she was sentenced to 32 years in the Department of Corrections for the arson charge and 12 years on the other count.
Around 5:45 a.m. on Oct 3, 2021, Greeley Police officers and members of the fire department were dispatched to a house fire on 15th Avenue Court. A man's body was found on the floor just inside the door of the home, but due to its condition, it took time to identify the victim as 35-year-old Christopher Dickerson, who was the homeowner.
According to an arrest affidavit from Greeley Police, he was stabbed several times in the neck and was dead before the fire started, based on burn patterns inside the home and a lack of smoke in his lungs.
Investigators determined the origin of the fire was the living room and ruled out an accidental cause, the affidavit says. They also searched the victim's home and noticed that it appeared Dickerson's bedroom closet had been "cleared out" and there were bags on the bed in the room that had been rummaged through, the affidavit says. An empty jewelry box was also found.
Valera and Stacy Rodriguez were both arrested in connection with Dickerson's death. When asked if they knew Dickerson or had ever been to his home, both women said no, the arrest affidavit says. However, surveillance video from various locations, including cameras near his home, appears to dispute their claims, according to the affidavit.
Charges against Rodriguez are still pending.
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