Father of teen accused of murder helped son hide, Denver police say

The father of a 14-year-old boy charged with murder in the July slaying of a Denver bar bouncer was arrested Friday and accused of driving his son to Wyoming to hide after the slaying, court records show. the police.

Steven Marquez, 46, was detained for investigation on charges of aiding and abetting a crime and attempting to influence a public official, according to online Denver County Court records.

Denver police allege he helped his son avoid arrest and lied to investigators after the July 10 fatal shooting at Federales Denver bar at 29th and Larimer streets in the River North Arts District, according to an affidavit filed against him.

Marquez’s son, whom the Denver Post is not naming because he is a minor, is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of William “Todd” Kidd, 49, a bouncer at the bar.

Kidd was responding to a disturbance when he was shot, police said. He died two days later, on July 12.

Marquez’s son, who turned 15 on Monday, was arrested July 16 in Casper, Wyoming. He had shaved his head “in an apparent effort to disguise himself,” according to the affidavit.

Marquez’s phone records show he traveled to Wyoming on July 14 and spent about an hour near Casper before returning to Denver, according to the nine-page affidavit, which police have largely redacted. A relative of Marquez lives in the area, police said.

Marquez told police his son would turn himself in, but not until the boy spoke to reporters because there was video of the killing that “the world needs to see,” according to the affidavit. Neither he nor his son showed up to a meeting arranged with police to surrender his son on July 13, according to the affidavit.

Marquez told The Post on Wednesday that he had seen video showing his son acting in self-defense during the shooting. He believes the charges against him are an attempt at police retaliation over the video and said he planned to help turn himself in after the murder. He could not immediately provide the video to the Post.

“The only thing I’m guilty of, if they want to say I’m guilty of anything, is being a father,” Marquez said. “I don’t know what’s going on. But my intention was to deliver my son.

Marquez was arrested Friday and released Sunday on $2,000 bail, according to court records. The two charges he was arrested on are minor misdemeanors. He is due in court on October 14. His son is due in court on October 15.

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