Jordan Valdez

Jordan Valdez was a beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, and a doting father to a four-year-old boy. His family was the most important thing to him, and he was the kind of person who would jump to help a loved one without a second thought. Remembered for his smile that could brighten anyone's day, Jordan was described by his mother as the son who would message his siblings just to see if they were okay and the grandson who would rush to make sure his grandmother was all right. He was the fun uncle all the younger kids wanted to play with. His life, full of love and connection, was tragically cut short in the fall of 2016 when he was just 23 years old.

The violence that ended Jordan’s life erupted from an argument that began on Facebook. On the evening of Monday, October 17, 2016, a dispute between two young women was supposed to be settled with a fight at a park in southwest Denver. Shortly before 9 p.m., two groups gathered near the intersection of West Mexico Avenue and South Raleigh Street, on the line between the city's Mar Lee and Ruby Hill neighborhoods. Jordan Valdez was with one of the groups. According to an arrest affidavit, as the groups came together, a man named Lorenzo Mark Simental allegedly ran up to Jordan and stabbed him in the left side of his chest. A witness told investigators that Jordan was unarmed and that it was unclear why he was targeted.

After he was stabbed, Jordan's friends drove him to a nearby 7-Eleven on the 1400 block of South Federal Boulevard, where they sought help. Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to Denver Health medical center. Despite their efforts, Jordan was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Denver Medical Examiner’s Office later officially ruled his death a homicide. His mother, Maria C. Sanchez, later wrote, "Never did I imagine that I would be going to my child's funeral. I imagined he would be coming to mine. But on Monday, 10/17/2016 at approximately 9:00pm my nightmare became reality."

The Denver Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the fatal stabbing. Within two days, they identified and apprehended a suspect. On the night of Tuesday, October 19, 2016, police arrested 21-year-old Lorenzo Mark Simental. The Denver District Attorney's Office subsequently charged him with one count of first-degree murder in connection with Jordan Valdez's death. In addition to the murder charge, Simental faced five counts of felony menacing for allegedly threatening five other individuals during the altercation that night.

Following an investigation and legal proceedings, Lorenzo Simental was convicted for his role in Jordan Valdez's death. In June 2017, a Denver jury found Simental guilty of second-degree murder, rejecting the initial first-degree murder charge. He was also convicted on the five counts of felony menacing. In August 2017, a judge sentenced Lorenzo Simental to 42 years in prison for the murder and an additional five years for the menacing charges, with the sentences to be served consecutively for a total of 47 years.

In the wake of his sudden and violent death, Jordan's family was left heartbroken and unprepared for the financial burden of a funeral. His mother started a GoFundMe page to ask for help with expenses. On the page, she poured out her grief, writing, "now I'm here left with a broken heart wondering why the Lord took my son home early." The community responded, donating thousands of dollars to help the family honor Jordan's memory. Though the criminal case has concluded, the loss of a young father and cherished family member remains a permanent tragedy for all who knew and loved Jordan Valdez.