A career criminal was charged with the brutal murder of a pregnant mother of six after being released from prison despite 61 arrests over three decades and seven accusations of skipping out on parole.

James Benavidez has spent the 20 of the last 30 year behind bars. The 50-year-old Colorado resident has racked up 31 guilty pleas and nine felonies.

He has been arrested for assault, drunk driving, resisting arrest, drug possession, and second-degree kidnapping. 

He pled guilty in every single case and was last released from prison on June 24, 2024.

In many of those instances he has served his time and been released as a free man, only to continue his life of crime. 

He now faces 23 charges for murdering pregnant woman Keeley Koff, shooting during an attempted carjacking, shooting at the police, and stealing a car all within a crazed 12-hour crime spree in Brighton, CO. 

The 32-year-old woman was found in an abandoned pick-up truck the day after Benavidez allegedly engaged the police in a wild chase on August 28. 

After Koff was shot and killed at 2am that day, according to KTVB, police responded to calls at a gas station where Benavidez was spotted. 

According to the Brighton Police Department, Benavidez tried to steal a car from a man at the Murphy Express. He wrestled him for the vehicle and then fired his gun but missed the victim. 

He left the man with a minor injury and then rode away on his bicycle. 

Then, police connected Benavidez with a crime several blocks over. 

He reportedly stole his friend’s car after she left him in the passenger seat while going inside of a business.

She called to report the stolen car and police found Benavidez driving it and tried to pull him over.

Instead, he led police on a wild chase and fired at least five shots at the officers who tried to stop him, hitting multiple police cars. 

No officers were injured.

Benavidez led police through the town, trying to hit a police motorcycle and patrol car along the way.

Police shot back at Benavidez and injured him. When he finally surrendered he was taken into custody and then to the hospital.

Police later found evidence that connected Keeley’s death to the string of crimes the following day. 

If he’s convicted of first-degree murder he will spend the rest of his life in prison. 

His official charges on August 29 were first degree murder, eight counts of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree unlawful termination of pregnancy, six counts of first-degree assault two counts of first-degree motor vehicle theft, three counts of attempted aggravated robbery, vehicular eluding and possession of a weapon by a previous offender, according to Denver7.

Keeley’s family said that she’d only known the man for two weeks. KDVR reported that she believed Benavidez to be dangerous and was actively trying to get away from him. 

They posted a GoFundMe page which says that she left behind six children and ‘numerous heartbroken and distraught family members.’

Daily Mail reached out to Brighton Police for comment.