Shorter, but boozier and less amusing real-life version of the film Weekend at Bernie's

 

Jessica Fender

The Denver Post

 

Posted: 09/15/2011 05:37:24 PM MDT

Updated: 09/15/2011 08:06:57 PM MDT

Jeffrey Jarrett bought his roommate and a friend a round of drinks, Mexican food and a trip to strip club Shotgun Willie's the night of August 27, authorities say.

But while Jarrett was present for some of the night's fun, he wasn't alive to enjoy any of it.

After a shorter, but boozier and less amusing real-life version of the film Weekend at Bernie's, Denver prosecutors have charged two men with abusing a corpse, identity theft and criminal impersonation. Court papers say they loaded Jarrett's body into a car and drove him to various stops around Denver for a night — including a bar and a restaurant — while they used his ATM card.

Both Robert Jeffrey Young, 43, and Mark Rubinson, 25, are free on bond. Neither could be reached for comment.

Neither is charged with Jarrett's death. The cause has not yet been determined as toxicology tests are still underway.

A relative of Jarrett's, who asked not to be identified while the case is pending, said it began after Jarrett invited a struggling Young, a buddy from their days together at Colorado State University, to stay with him for a few months until Young could get on his feet, she said.

Then, on Aug. 27, Young arrived around 11 p.m. at Jarrett's southeast Denver home in the 1800 block of South Forest Street and found him unresponsive. Rather than calling 911, he went to the restaurant where Rubinson works, according to court documents.

A search warrant affidavit filed in the case outlines the rest of the night:

The pair returned to Jarrett's home, loaded him into Rubinson's Lincoln Navigator and took him to Teddy T's bar and grill. Jarrett's body remained in the backseat while the pair drank on his tab.

"Young stated ... that it was obvious Jarrett was dead while all three are at Teddy T's," Denver Det. Ranjan Ford wrote in the affidavit.

They next stopped at Sam's No. 3 before dropping off Jarrett's body back at his home.

But they kept the ATM card.

 

Next stop was a meal at Viva Burrito, and then they somehow withdrew $400 at Shotgun Willie's, remaining at the Glendale strip club until closing time, Ford writes. It's not clear from the documents if the pair had Jarrett's ATM code.

Around 4 a.m. authorities say the pair flagged down a Glendale police officer and told him that Jarrett might be dead back at his house.

Young next appears in court Sept. 27. Rubinson next appears Oct. 4.

"This is a bizarre and unfortunate crime," said Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson. "This isn't anything you want to have happen to a loved one. You want them treated with respect in death."

The relative said Jarrett was a father and a professional who sold real estate and owned his home in southeast Denver. His family now wants to find out how he died, and whether he could have been saved if Young had called for help rather than going to meet a friend.

"We just want to make sure they're prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," the relative said.