Trials for Longmont postal slaying slated for next year

Defendants in a deadly Oct. 13, 2021 shooting near a group of mailboxes in west Longmont are scheduled to be tried early next year.

Devan Schreiner, 27, and Andrew James Ritchie, 35, are both accused of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Jason Schaefer, 33. Schaefer was Schreiner’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her child.

Schaefer was shot three times next to his postal delivery van, near a group of mailboxes, on Heatherhill Street just west of Renaissance Drive.

Ritchie is accused of plotting with Schreiner to kill Schaefer.

Schreiner and Ritchie are being tried separately for the murder.

Last week, Boulder District Judge Patrick Butler agreed to move Ritchie’s trial from Dec. 5 to April 10. The delay was over issues raised by the defense.

A hearing on the case is set for April 3. 

Schreiner is scheduled for trial Feb. 27.

Schaefer was placing mail in a standing postal box near Heatherhill Street and Renaissance Drive on Oct. 13 about 12:30 p.m. when Schreiner approached him and shot multiple times, Longmont Police said.

Police learned Schaefer and Schreiner have a child together and Schaefer had filed documents with the courts to have parenting time modified, according to an arrest affidavit.

Schreiner had been fired from her job at the post office in Longmont over a dispute with Schaefer two weeks before the shooting, the affidavit states. She was later hired by the Loveland post office.