A Centennial, Colorado family and community are mourning after five-year-oldElias Reliford was killed while napping at home, allegedly by his 11-year-old brother, on Tuesday (March 10). The older brother has been arrested and now faces a charge of first-degree murder, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the Reliford family’s home on South Jericho Way on March 10, where they found Elias dead and began an investigation. Authorities identified the suspect as Elias’ 11-year-old brother, who was taken into custody and charged as an aggravated juvenile offender. Because both children are minors, officials have withheld specific details about the incident and the cause of death. The case has left the neighborhood and school community in shock, with Timberline Elementary School offering mental health support to students and staff impacted by the tragedy.
Family members described Elias as an outgoing and joyful kindergartner who loved being outdoors, riding his scooter, and playing pranks. His great-aunt, Dawn Myles, said the two brothers were inseparable: “If you saw one brother, you saw the other one.” She told The Denver Gazette that the family is devastated, with parents unable to speak publicly as they grieve and struggle with displacement after leaving their home…