Suvechha Sarkar
The episode titled ‘Who Wanted Nicki Lenway Dead?’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours’ takes an in-depth look into the shocking case of Nicole Lenway, also known as Nicki. She was walking to pick up her son from a parenting center when she was suddenly shot. Thankfully, she survived the attack but found herself in the middle of an investigation that revealed her ex-boyfriend, Timothy Allen Amacher, AKA Tim, and his girlfriend, Colleen Purificacion Larson, were responsible for the attack. It turned out that while Colleen was the one who pulled the trigger, Tim had made the plan. The episode also features emotional interviews with Nicki and law enforcement officials who helped bring closure.
Colleen Larson and Tim Amacher Were Arrested Based on Forensic Evidence
Colleen Purificacion Larson was born on January 6, 1998. According to reports, she was just 12 years old when she joined the Taekwondo class of Timothy Allen Amacher, AKA Tim. By 2016, Tim and the mother of his child, Nicole Lenway, also known as Nicki, had parted ways. It wasn’t long before Colleen got into a relationship with him and began living at his home. According to reports, Tim was unable to have an unsupervised visit with their son, Callahan, and was upset about Nicki being granted full custody of him. Court records state that he allegedly told Colleen that he wanted his ex-girlfriend out of the picture and wanted to raise Callahan on his own. Ultimately, on April 20, 2022, Colleen drove Tim’s Dodge Ram truck to a parenting center, named FamilyWise, where he was meeting Callahan.
Just outside the entrance of the center, Colleen shot Nicki and fled the scene in a black outfit. With the beginning of the investigation, officials attempted to locate the truck using CCTV footage but were unable to do so, as it had no license plates. According to police records, they soon discovered the messy custody battle between Tim and Nicki. Moreover, they learned that Tim owned the same truck used at the crime scene, but he had denied it when questioned. During interrogation, Tim reportedly denied his involvement and informed the detectives that Colleen was the only other individual who had access to his vehicle. Shortly after, digital forensics analysis of the car’s Wi-Fi data revealed that Colleen was present at the crime scene.
Additionally, a search warrant for Tim’s house led the investigators to find the same ammunition that was used in the shooting. Colleen was finally arrested on April 28, 2022, and formally charged with attempted first-degree murder (premeditated). When questioned, she initially insisted that she knew nothing about the crime and wasn’t involved in it. However, according to court records, during her second interrogation, Colleen eventually confessed that she was the one to shoot Nicki. Another breakthrough came when she reportedly admitted that Tim originally made the plan of the shooting, and she allegedly just executed the plan. Ultimately, Tim was also arrested and charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder and aiding the accomplice after the fact.
Colleen and Tim Are Serving Their Sentence in Minnesota Prison Facilities Today
Initially, Colleen was set to face a jury trial. However, she avoided it as she entered into a straight guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder (premeditated) on February 3, 2023. During the hearing, the prosecution emphasized the role she played in shooting Nicki and how she escaped the scene. However, the defense repeatedly claimed that Colleen was manipulated and influenced by Tim, who was several years older than her. The defense argued, “The manipulation, Your Honor, is so obvious. So clear. She was utterly overborne in this instance by that man. Tim Amacher is evil.” Colleen was ultimately sentenced to 198 months in prison, which amounts to a 16.5-year term.
During her sentencing, Colleen apologized before the court, reading, “Your Honor, I stand before you with the utmost respect for the decision to come. I accept all the consequences for my actions. I understand and want to atone for what I have done. A simple apology cannot cover the long-term damages that I have caused.” Her projected release date isn’t before February 16, 2034, which is approximately five years before her sentence is scheduled to be completed. Tim went on a jury trial, which began on November 3, 2022, and he was convicted of both charges. According to Minnesota law, he received the maximum sentence of 18 years for his convictions on January 30, 2023. His anticipated release date is set on April 27, 2034.
Following her sentencing, Colleen reportedly appealed her judgment, claiming that the District Court had abused its discretion by denying her probation instead of imposing prison. In the appeal, she argued that it should’ve been the outcome considering the factors that she had no previous criminal record, was young, had strong family support, and was heavily influenced by Tim. However, on May 13, 2024, the Appellate Court upheld her conviction and sentence. Similarly, Tim had also appealed his judgment. On July 8, 2024, the court upheld the conviction of attempted murder but reversed the sentence of aiding an accomplice. Currently, Colleen is serving her time at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Shakopee in Shakopee, Minnesota, and Tim is incarcerated at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Lino Lakes in Lino Lakes, Minnesota.
Read More: Tim Amacher: Where is Nicki Lenway’s Ex-Boyfriend Now?
