Double homicide possibly a solicited murder

Posted: Mar 1, 2011 10:21 PM by John Romero
Updated: Mar 2, 2011 4:29 AM

Friends and co-workers are still in shock after a double homicide last Wednesday near Castle Rock. Investigators believe 26-year-old Josiah Sher, 26-year-old Matthew Plake and 29-year-old Micah Woody of Colorado Springs and 49 year old Christopher Wells of Monument all had a hand in the murder of Well's estranged wife Amara and her brother in law Robert Rafferty.

We spoke with the Jason Oringer, a manager at Rocky Mountain Auto Brokers in Colorado Springs where all 4 men worked at within the past year. He says they couldn't believe the news. "I work with these guys every single day. They were hard working guys who came in to work, do their job and go home." he says, "I was absolutely shocked to see these two guys involved in something of this nature."

Sher, Plake and Woody have all been arrested and booked on 1st degree murder charges. Wells is being held on a number of charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of first-degree murder. That could mean investigators believe Wells who was in jail at the time of the murders solicited the other three men to carry out the killing. Oringer says it's a situation he never saw coming. "They were just regular people. I don't know how they got wrapped up in this." he says.

We went to Wells' neighborhood in Monument to learn more. Neighbors tell us that Amara had moved out about 6 months ago. We also looked further into the criminal history of Christopher wells. Back in august 2010 he was charged with criminal mischief relating to an act of domestic violence.

As investigators try to sort out all of the details, those who knew everyone involved can only wonder how this all happened. "Our hearts and prayers go out to everybody's families." says Oringer, "It's a tragedy, it's shocking. We're at a loss for words."