Albert Trevino’s pockets were loaded with cash that Spring of 1972, when Richard Nixon was making an historic trip to China.
Albert Trevino, 24
Trevino, a construction worker, had just received a large worker’s compensation claim.
The married pipefitter and father of two had been badly injured at work and had finally gotten his settlement.
The 24-year-old man, who lived at 103 Fox St. in Denver, cashed his check and went looking for a new car. It was an exciting time.
Trevino found the car he wanted and while he waited for the deal to be approved he openly flaunted his fat wad of cash to strangers he met on the evening of April 4, 1972.
Trevino wanted everyone he came into contact with to hear about his good fortune and so he rented a car and went bar-hopping along the East Colfax corridor.
According to Arapahoe County Sheriff’s investigators, he was “carelessly flashing a large sum of money around.”
“Somewhere along the line that evening, the wrong person took notice,” the sheriff’s report says.
At about 12:30 a.m. on April 5, Trevino entered the Newport Lounge on East Colfax Avenue.
“Once again, Albert flashed his money, loudly hailing anyone who would listen,” the sheriff’s report says.
The Newport Lounge had already had some drama that night.