Suspect Charged in Process Server Murder

A judge on Friday declined the request of the attorney for a Loveland man accused of first-degree murder to reduce the charges against him.

James Whitler, 45, has been charged in the beating death of Stephen Allen, a 57-year-old process server, the evening of May 28 at Whitler’s residence west of Loveland. Whitler is also charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly choking his children, 12-year-old Amanda and 10-year-old Jacob, when sheriff’s deputies apprehended him at his home.

Friday, 8th Judicial District Judge Daniel Kaup decided enough evidence existed to carry all charges against Whitler to a possible trial after listening to testimony from one of the investigators in the case.

Attorneys for both sides agreed Whitler hit Allen multiple times with a T-ball bat and choked the children, but prosecutors and defense attorneys differed on what Whitler’s mind-set was during the attacks.

Allen was serving Whitler with divorce papers and a restraining order taken out by Whitler’s estranged wife, Lisa Whitler, when he was attacked by Whitler — who hit Allen between 15 and 20 times, Larimer County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Feyen testified.