Police say the case began as a burglary in the 300 block of South Kendall Street and are asking residents for tips.
LAKEWOOD, CO — A woman was found dead inside her Lakewood home on Saturday evening after what police say began as a burglary along the 300 block of South Kendall Street. Officers responding to the address discovered the victim and opened a homicide investigation as neighbors watched detectives cordon off the residential block.
Police have not released the woman’s name or age, and no arrests had been announced as of Monday. Lakewood police said the break-in appears to have preceded the killing, and investigators spent the weekend canvassing the area for security video and witnesses. The department urged residents near South Kendall Street to review doorbell and exterior cameras for anything unusual around Saturday night. The death has unsettled a normally quiet slice of the city just south of West Alameda Avenue, where homes sit within walking distance of neighborhood parks and schools.
Neighbors said flashing lights and crime-scene tape replaced a calm Saturday night after officers arrived and blocked off the street. One resident who spoke to local TV described hearing activity on the block before learning a neighbor had been killed. “It’s scary to think this happened so close,” the neighbor said, asking not to be named. Police said they believe the crime began as a burglary and asked anyone with information to come forward. “Check your security cameras,” the department said in a weekend update, adding that investigators are reviewing any footage that shows unfamiliar people or vehicles in the area.
Lakewood police said the woman was found inside her home and that detectives are treating the case as a homicide. The department did not immediately release details about the suspected point of entry, the timing inside the home, or whether anything was taken, citing the active investigation. Officers searched the block for evidence and spoke with nearby residents through Sunday, focusing on the period from late afternoon into the evening. The department also reminded residents to “keep their doors locked and lights on for safety,” and provided a case number so tips could be routed directly to detectives. Authorities did not identify a suspect and did not describe a specific vehicle of interest. The manner and cause of death were not released pending official findings.
Records show South Kendall Street runs through a residential area west of downtown Denver, with single-family homes and a mix of older and renovated properties. Neighbors said the block is typically quiet, with children playing after school and regular dog walkers in the evenings. While property crimes have been a concern across the metro area, residents said a killing inside a home felt different and more personal. Several households noted doorbell cameras are common on the street, and some began sharing clips with one another and with detectives over the weekend as officers went door to door.
Police opened a tip line specific to the case and asked residents to reference the assigned number when calling. They also directed potential witnesses to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. Detectives are working to narrow the timeline of the break-in and establish the victim’s last known contacts. If investigators identify a suspect, the next steps could include a warrant for arrest, a public bulletin with a name or vehicle description, and a briefing to announce preliminary charges. Officials said updates will be released when they can do so without risking the investigation. A news conference had not been scheduled as of Monday afternoon.
On Sunday, officers were back on South Kendall Street, and evidence technicians were seen photographing the front walk and collecting items from the yard. A neighbor who has lived on the block for more than a decade said the sight of numbered evidence markers on a familiar driveway “didn’t feel real,” adding that several families checked on one another as patrol cars idled nearby. Another resident said they planned to spend the week staying with relatives. “We’ll be double-checking locks for a while,” the neighbor said. By nightfall, most of the tape had come down, but a patrol unit passed through the area several times.
As of Monday evening, police said the investigation remains active and the neighborhood review of security footage continues. Detectives plan to provide the next update after key interviews and evidence reviews are complete this week.
Author note: Last updated December 9, 2025.