Colorado Springs police  Detective J.F. Somosky

Crime Stoppers 

Christmas Eve will mark 13 years since Margaret Sweets was murdered after an altercation with an unidentified man while visiting her father’s home in Colorado Springs. Who killed Margaret? 

Margaret “Mae” Sweet was a young, lively woman—she occasionally used the name Shelby Jamison—-loved live music. A lover of the outdoors, her family described Margaret as having an adventurous spirit who felt most herself when she was white water rafting in the mountains. She was a reliable and thoughtful person who always made herself available for a friend in need. 

A few months prior to her murder. Margaret was living in Nashville, Tennessee when she met her boyfriend, Jere Dale Batts. Their relationship was often tumultuous despite Batts' claims of never physically harming Margaret. On May 13, 2008, Margaret had filed an order of protection against Batts after he had followed her across the country to Colorado Springs—on one occasion Batts left a teddy bear, a dozen red roses, and an engagement ring on her car.

The day she was murdered. On December 24, 2008, Margaret was home in Colorado Springs helping her father, James Egger, tend to her stepmother, Peggy who was recovering from surgery at a local hospital. Margaret and her father took turns visiting Penny. Around 11 pm, neighbors overheard a loud verbal argument between an unidentified man and Margaret followed by a gunshot at her father’s home. 911 was never called. 

When Margaret’s father returned home the next day he noticed something on the white-picket-fence. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Margaret’s bloody body, with one leg in the basement well. She had been shot. When paramedics arrived on the scene, Margaret was declared deceased. Investigators ran a ballistic report and found the same gun was used to injure a man in a drug deal in 2007; the victim survived and no one was arrested. However, toxicology reports would show that Margaret was sober at the time of her death and there is no connection to the drug trade. Jere Dale Batts would tell police that he was on a date with another woman at the time of the shooting. 

Where the case stands today. Margaret’s case remains unsolved, and there has been very little coverage of her case since her murder. Authorities are asking anyone with details about her murder to come forward. Were you near 1300 Forsdick Circle the evening of Christmas Eve 2008? If you have any information regarding Margaret Sweets please contact Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000 or email cspdcoldcase@springsgov.com with tips.

On May 13th 2008, Margaret filed a restraining order against ex boyfriend, Jere Dale Batts, after he allegedly followed her from Nashville TN to Colorado. The restraining order was filed after she came home drunk and she allegedly started fighting with him, he had grabbed her wrists to prevent her from striking him. Batts claimed that despite their 'stormy' relationship, they did not have a history of violence.

Margaret was taking turns with her father taking of her step-mom who was recovering from a surgery. Around 11pm, neighbors heard an verbal arguement between an unidentified male and the victim.  A gun went off and Margaret was shot. 911 was not called. According to her ex boyfriend, Jere Dale Batts, he was on a date with another woman during the time of the shooting, per the Denver post archieved article.

Jim was returning home from the hospital where his wife was recovering from surgery. Upon returning home, Jim Egger noticed something on his white pickett fence. Margaret was found with one leg in the basement well. Her body was cold and she was surrounded by pools of blood. Margaret was declared dead onsite. According to ballistic reports, the same gun was used to injure a man during a bad drug deal in 2007. Toxicology reports determined that Margaret was sober at the time of her death and has no connection to drug trade.

Margaret Sweet was found murdered here.  

Margaret Father's House (Approx. Location)

A young woman is killed outside her father's home on Christmas Eve.

Margaret was 38 years old when she passed away.  At the time of her murder, she was visiting her father in Colorado while her stepmother was recovering from surgery at a nearby hospital. Before her death, Margaret filed a restraining order against an ex-boyfriend who followed her to Nashville from Colorado. 

Found the victim dead at his house on Christmas Eve 2008

Married to James Egger, and was recovering from surgery at a local hospital when Margaret was killed

Margaret's boyfriend, who was 13 years older than her. On May 13, 2008, Margaret filed a restraining order against Batts for stalking. According to Margaret's father, he followed her from Colorado to Colorado Springs. According to the Denver post, he left a teddy bear, dozen roses, and engagement ring on Margaret's car.  He is a car repairman.

Colorado

Share Margaret's case with your own social network.

Share Her Story

If you have any information regarding the murder of Margaret Sweet, please call Crime Stoppers at (719-634-STOP (7867).

Submit A Tip

Please share Margaret's story on Twitter.

BrainScratch: Broken Christmas - Who Killed Margaret Sweet?

Justice for Margaret Sweet

Margaret Sweet Obituary

Colorado Cold Case Files

Margaret Alice Mae Egger Sweet

Colorado Springs woman gunned down on Christmas Eve 2008

Women's Death Ruled a Homocide

Penny Egger Obituary

James Egger Obituary

Woman Found Shot to Death

Christmas Eve cold case remains unsolved 10 years later

Christmas Eve murder, Colorado

Margaret Sweet’s Killer Walking Among Us

Cold Case: Margaret Sweet

8 in 10 homicides solved in 2008

It's been more than 13 years since Margaret Sweet was murdered after an altercation with an unidentified man while visiting her father’s home in Colorado Springs. Who killed Margaret?


Margaret “Mae” Sweet was a young, lively woman—she occasionally used the name Shelby Jamison—-loved live music. A lover of the outdoors, her family described Margaret as having an adventurous spirit who felt most herself when she was white water rafting in the mountains. She was a reliable and thoughtful person who always made herself available for a friend in need. 

Margaret was living in Nashville, Tennessee when she met her boyfriend, Jere Dale Batts. Their relationship was often tumultuous despite Batts' claims of never physically harming Margaret. On May 13, 2008, Margaret had filed an order of protection against Batts after he had followed her across the country to Colorado Springs—on one occasion Batts left a teddy bear, a dozen red roses, and an engagement ring on her car.

, Margaret was home in Colorado Springs helping her father, James Egger, tend to her stepmother, Peggy who was recovering from surgery at a local hospital. Margaret and her father took turns visiting Penny. Around 11 pm, neighbors overheard a loud verbal argument between an unidentified man and Margaret followed by a gunshot at her father’s home. 911 was never called.

When Margaret’s father returned home the next day he noticed something on the white picket fence. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Margaret’s bloody body, with one leg in the basement well. She had been shot. When paramedics arrived on the scene, Margaret was declared deceased. Investigators ran a ballistic report and found the same gun was used to injure a man in a drug deal in 2007; the victim survived and no one was arrested. However, toxicology reports would show that Margaret was sober at the time of her death and there is no connection to the drug trade. Jere Dale Batts would tell police that he was on a date with another woman at the time of the shooting.

Margaret Sweet_LordanARTS

Margaret’s case remains unsolved, and there has been very little coverage of her case since her murder. Authorities are asking anyone with details about her murder to come forward. 

Were you near 1300 Forsdick Circle the evening of Christmas Eve 2008?

If you have any information regarding Margaret Sweets please contact 

 at 719-444-7000 or email cspdcoldcase@springsgov.com with tips.

Margaret Sweet

Sources

Online Resources (5)

Misc (10)

Follow Us