A Night Out Turns Tragic
On the night of March 31, 2011, 19-year-old Kenia Monge went out with friends to enjoy a Thursday night in downtown Denver, Colorado. A spirited and outgoing young woman, Kenia was full of life and known for her warm personality. That evening, she partied at a nightclub in the LoDo (Lower Downtown) district and was later seen on surveillance footage wandering outside the club alone. She had left behind her cell phone, purse, and ID, likely due to intoxication. This would be the last time she was seen alive.
By the following morning, when Kenia hadn’t returned home, her family grew anxious. As time passed and there was no word from her, the concern escalated into a full-scale missing person search. Flyers were printed, interviews were conducted, and the police began investigating what had happened to the young woman who had simply vanished into the night.
The Man with the Van
Soon after the search began, a man named Travis Forbes came forward to police with what appeared to be useful information. He claimed he had seen Kenia late that night. According to his story, he encountered her while she was alone, clearly intoxicated and disoriented. Forbes said he offered to give her a ride in his white delivery van, hoping to take her to a safer location. He alleged that shortly after she got into the van, she decided to leave and walked away with a mystery man, described vaguely as a Black male.
His story raised red flags for investigators, particularly because of inconsistencies. Kenia was vulnerable, and this man, by his own admission, had been the last person to see her. But lacking hard evidence, police could not arrest him—yet.
A Father’s Intuition
Tony Lee, Kenia’s stepfather, never believed Travis Forbes’ account. Convinced that Forbes knew more than he was revealing, Tony began his own personal investigation. He reached out to Forbes under the pretense of staying in touch, hoping that continuing communication might lead him to the truth. Tony’s persistent efforts would become a crucial part of the case’s eventual resolution.
Meanwhile, detectives kept their eyes on Forbes. They were particularly interested in the white van he drove, which had become a potential crime scene. After obtaining a warrant, police searched the van and found traces of bleach and what appeared to be blood stains. While the results were not conclusive enough to warrant an arrest, it strengthened their suspicions that something violent had taken place inside the vehicle.
A Second Victim Speaks
Months later, on July 5, 2011, another crime shook the state. A 30-year-old woman named Lydia Tillman was brutally attacked in Fort Collins, Colorado. She had just returned home after watching fireworks for Independence Day. That night, a man broke into her apartment, sexually assaulted her, and strangled her until she lost consciousness. To cover his tracks, the assailant then set her apartment on fire and fled.
Miraculously, Lydia survived. She jumped out of a second-story window to escape the flames, suffering broken bones and severe burns. For five weeks, she was in a medically induced coma, and it would take months for her to speak again. But her eventual testimony would be key in unmasking a serial predator.
DNA evidence collected from the attack on Lydia was matched to Travis Forbes. This was the breakthrough the police needed. With DNA linking him to an attempted murder and multiple suspicions surrounding Kenia’s disappearance, Forbes was arrested.
The Confession
With the weight of DNA evidence and the heat of public scrutiny closing in, Forbes finally confessed to the murder of Kenia Monge. His confession was chilling.
According to Forbes, after picking up Kenia that night in March, he drove her around in his van. When she passed out, he took her to a deserted warehouse area and raped and strangled her. He then transported her body to a bakery where he worked as a delivery driver. There, he placed her corpse in an unused freezer for several days.
Later, fearing discovery, he drove to a remote field near Keenesburg, Colorado—about 40 miles northeast of Denver—and buried her body in a shallow grave. He had tried to eliminate all evidence but underestimated the resolve of the people pursuing the truth.
Once he led detectives to the burial site, Kenia’s remains were recovered, bringing some closure to her devastated family.
The Sentencing
In September 2011, Forbes pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Kenia Monge and attempted murder of Lydia Tillman. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for Kenia’s death and an additional 48 years for the attack on Lydia.
In court, the Monge family tearfully addressed Forbes. Kenia’s mother spoke about the pain of losing a daughter who had just begun her adult life. Lydia Tillman, in an act of extraordinary bravery, appeared at the sentencing and forgave her attacker, though she made it clear he would never harm another woman again.
Reflections and Impact
This tragic case highlighted several powerful themes:
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The vulnerability of young women: Kenia’s trust in a stranger, while likely influenced by alcohol and disorientation, placed her in a deadly situation—one that countless other women have faced.
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The importance of family persistence: Tony Lee’s unrelenting efforts to stay close to Forbes and urge police action kept the case alive. His gut feeling about Forbes turned out to be correct and helped bring a killer to justice.
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The power of survivor testimony: Lydia Tillman’s survival and eventual cooperation gave authorities the evidence they needed to break the case wide open. Her strength helped deliver justice not only for herself, but for Kenia.
Kenia’s Legacy
Though her life was cut short, Kenia Monge’s story has not faded. Her family has worked to raise awareness around missing persons, especially in cases involving young women of color. Too often, such cases receive little media attention. The Monge family has since advocated for better prevention methods, support systems, and public engagement in helping find and protect missing individuals.
In Memory of Kenia Monge (1991–2011)
Her story has become a beacon not only of loss but of resilience, reminding us that even in darkness, truth can surface—and justice, though delayed, can still be served.
