Nebraska man arrested for 2007 murder in Frederick

A 72-year-old man from Nebraska has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with a cold case dating back to 2007. The victim, Jessica Bejarano, was found stabbed to death in her home in Frederick, Colorado. Bejarano, who was 25 years old at the time of her death, was discovered in her bathroom on April 6, 2007. Her two young children were present in the home when the incident occurred. Initially, police considered several suspects, including Bejarano's husband, but he was later cleared after it was confirmed he was at work during the murder. The suspect, Darrell Lee Burklund, was identified through DNA evidence. He worked as a maintenance worker and was 54 years old at the time of Bejarano’s death. Authorities interviewed Burklund in York, Nebraska, before arresting him on suspicion of second-degree murder. Burklund is set to have an extradition hearing in Nebraska this Wednesday. Jessica's mother, Cece Merrow, expressed gratitude to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for their work on the case. She said, “We never gave up hope,” and praised the agents for their commitment to finding justice. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected.