DOUGLAS COUNTY – It wasn’t just a normal commute for one motorist on I-25 near the Greenland exit in September of 2017. As the person drove by, they noticed the body of a woman on the side of the interstate. The woman was found with 19-stab wounds and over 50-other injuries.
The woman was later identified as 24-year Shelby Weatherly and her killer’s fingerprints were found with Weatherly’s body. 38-year old Mihail Petrov, was identified after an intensive investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Forensic evidence, videos, photos and witnesses all played a part. Weatherly’s blood was found on Petrov’s clothing and in his car. He even admitted to killing someone who was on the news to two different people and they claimed he asked if they wanted to smell human blood.
Petrov was arrested on October 13th, 2017. He was in a stolen vehicle and he was carrying cocaine and meth. On Wednesday, a Douglas County District Court jury found Petrov guilty of first-degree murder after deliberation and seven other counts related to the death of Shelby Weatherly.
In a separate hearing Thursday, Petrov was found to be a habitual criminal. Sentencing is set for April 30th. The statutory sentence for first-degree murder is life in prison without the possibility of parole.
