(Golden, CO – December 30, 2019) Jerald Arthur Cross, DOB: 1-3-54, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Julene Isaacson, 61. The sentencing hearing was on December 20, 2019.
On October 7, 2018, Cross and Isaacson lived together at 5288 Pintail Court in Morrison when the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office arrived and found her dead. She had been shot twice in the head. Ms. Isaacson was on the floor, up against the couch, surrounded by an art project for students at the elementary school where she taught.
Ms. Isaacson had told family and friends that Cross had been physical with her and that she had an exit strategy to leave the relationship. She wanted to wait until the end of the school term so as to lessen the impact on her students.
Mr. Cross said that he committed the murder because he couldn’t give her up.
Mr. Cross was originally charged with First Degree Murder. Following his jury trial in November, 2019, the jury convicted him of the less-included charge of Second Degree Murder.