On January 4, 2016, Courtney Plante and Sean Overstreet just felt like killing someone, it was that simple.  And, the two, perhaps out of boredom, concocted an unusual plan for murder.  Overstreet was 37 at the time, while Plante was only 19.  The couple decided they would pull over a U-Haul truck on the side of a highway, turn on the flashers and have Plante stand next to it.  When an unsuspecting individual willing to help inevitably pulled over to help, they would "'bludgeon them to death or some such and take their car'", according to the arrest affidavit.  However, their plan evolved as the night went on. Eventually, the two decided to knock on the door of Michael Brown, a former teacher of Plante's, stating their U-Haul had broken down.  Brown told investigators he gave Plante a ride to the U-Haul in his Jeep Cherokee. The truck in the couple’s possession was reportedly was stolen.

Brown was able to flee on foot toward the Cotopaxi Store, flagging down a passerby somewhere along the way for help.  The suspects then allegedly got into the Brown’s Jeep, chased him down with it and crashed it into the vehicle of the person who was trying to help.  At around 7:27 p.m. that evening, according to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the location of the crime in Cotopaxi.  Brown was taken to an area hospital with life threatening injuries.  Deputies later found the Jeep, but the suspects were not found after hours of searching the area.  It would take some time before officers apprehended the couple.  Once caught, Plante allegedly assaulted police officers during her arrest.[caption id="attachment_18672" align="alignnone" width="300"]Image Courtesy of The Denver Post

Courtney Plante was initially held on on a $500,000 bond for the unusual crime at the Fremont County Jail on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, first degree assault, and aggravated motor vehicle theft.  However, after the court proceedings, she will not be charged with attempted murder.  The suspect recently accepted a plea deal, making the decision to plead guilty to aggravated robbery and a crime of violence rather than take a gamble and withstand trial.  All other charges Plante faced were dropped under the agreement.  Plante will face 15 to 24 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by five years of mandatory parole.District Judge Ramsey Lama said if the case had moved to trial, Plante would have faced a sentence likely to range from 10 to 32 years.  The mandatory minimum Plante will face in prison is more by accepting the plea deal.  Plante's co-defendant, Sean Overstreet was formally was sentenced to 40 years in the Department of Corrections after he too accepted a plea deal.  

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Cotopaxi victim who tried to help stranded vehicle ends up stabbedCourtney Plante Admits to Role in Bizarre Murder Try Against Former TeacherCourtney Plante avoids attempted murder charge with plea deal