Date: 02/05/2025
WESTMINSTER, Colo – The Westminster Police Department, in partnership with Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, is announcing a reward increase of up to $10,000 for information regarding a 1999 triple homicide case.
On February 7, 1999, Paul Skiba, his 9-year-old daughter, Sarah Skiba, and his business associate, Lorenzo Chivers, disappeared after returning to Paul’s moving company, Tuff Movers, located in the 7100 block of Raleigh St. in Westminster. They had just completed a job and arrived back at the truck yard around 7 p.m. Investigators later determined that Paul, Lorenzo and Sarah were murdered shortly after arriving. Evidence suggests their bodies were transported in the moving truck to an unknown location and have never been recovered. While the truck was found and thoroughly searched, its moving ramps, blankets and straps were missing and still remain unaccounted for.
WPD detectives have been actively working on this case for the last 26 years, following up on potential leads and re-analyzing evidence. This past year, they have conducted extensive forensic testing, executed additional area searches and re-interviewed individuals connected to this investigation. New information has helped to move this case forward, but the public’s assistance is still essential in bringing this case to a close.
“We have been searching for our dear Sarah, my only child, for 26 years now,” Michelle Russell, Sarah’s mother, said. “Her loss has not gotten any easier and reliving the events every year is a heartbreaking way to remember her. Some people say she was at the wrong place at the wrong time. She is completely innocent since she was only 9 ½ years old at the time. Why would anyone want to kill her in cold blood? She was a child. She obviously was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and besides some blood evidence, she has never been found. What does that do to a mother, knowing that she does not know where her child is, and may never know? There is a small amount of hope left that I may one day find out what happened to my daughter, Sarah. But if society has shown me anything, it is that human life is not sacred and everyone lies. I wish it weren’t the case. Today I reach out with a plea: please come forward and say what you know about what happened. Sarah deserves to be found. No child should be left out alone and unfound. Thank you.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Westminster Police Department at (303) 658-4360. Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for anyone with information that could help solve this case. This increase is made possible through the generosity of the Westminster Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and an anonymous community member. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling their tip line at (719) 634-STOP (7867).
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