Aurora, CO

Life sentence upheld for man convicted of 2018 murder of an Aurora mother

Heather Willard

Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / May 19, 2023

(Aurora, Colo.) A trio of Colorado Appeals Court judges agreed that the man who shot and killed Kiara Livingston would spend the rest of his life in prison for her murder.

The decision was released on May 18, nearly four years after a jury found Cleveland Vernon Grimes IV, 41, guilty of first-degree murder after he shot Livingston five times, killing the 28-year-old mother.

According to court documents, Livingston and Grimes were at a friend’s apartment on South Iola Street in Aurora on April 14, 2018, when they began arguing after Livingston allegedly “disrespected” Grimes. The pair were in a relationship, and friends and family testified during the jury trial that Grimes was jealous and possessive.

Livingston got into her car to leave, but Grimes approached her driver-side window and shot her five times. Officers who responded to the scene testified that the car was still in reverse with the taillights on when they arrived soon after.

Livingston was transported to Aurora Medical Center, where she died, leaving behind two young daughters.

Grimes was sentenced to mandatory life in prison without parole. He is housed at the Buena Vista Correctional Complex in Chaffee County.

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Public safety reporter in DougCo, Denver metro. Previously: Pueblo Chieftain public safety reporter, Athens Messenger associate editor. Caffeine fiend, cat mom and lover of all things spooky.

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