EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A family’s seven-year quest for justice for their Army combat veteran son’s murder is now over.
Brandon Olsen accepted a plea deal Monday morning, May 6 for his role in the death of 23-year-old Tyler Croke on May 7, 2017. Five defendants were indicted in the case.
Earlier this month, Tristan Chilton and Adam Acosta also accepted plea deals. Olsen, Chilton, and Acosta will all be sentenced May 17. Tyler Croke’s mother, Kjersten Croke, says the family will be in El Paso to testify for the victim impact statement portion of sentencing.
Stephanie Fernandez, who was the getaway driver, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2018. Another co-defendant, Zachary Johnston, pleaded guilty in Dec. 2019 and was sentenced to life in prison.
As KTSM previously reported, the five defendants are accused of slitting Croke’s throat during a violent drug robbery inside Croke’s apartment in the 1500 block of Lomaland.
Documents indicate that Tristan Chilton told investigators that Acosta made his way into Croke’s apartment with a shotgun, and once inside, Chilton and Johnston held Croke’s legs down while Olsen slit his throat as he tried to crawl away.
Fort Bliss officials confirmed Olsen was an active duty soldier stationed at the post at the time of Croke’s murder. Johnston and Acosta were separated from the Army one month prior to the murder.
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