'Star Witness' Set To Testify About Murdered Pregnant Woman Is Herself Murdered

A Colorado woman who was confirmed to testify at a murder trial has now herself been murdered — but police said they do not feel her death is related to her upcoming testimony.

Roxann Martinez, 31, was shot to death in Denver last week, the Denver Police Department stated. Her body was found in the street in the city's Hampden South neighborhood, KCNC-TV in Denver reports.

Martinez was scheduled to testify for the prosecution at an upcoming murder trial for the 2013 presumed killing of Keslie Schelling, who was eight weeks pregnant when she vanished, Denver outlet KDVR reports. While Schelling's body has not been found, she is presumed dead, and prosecutors have fingered her boyfriend, Donthe Lucas, 28, as her killer. He has pleaded not guilty.

Schelling was on her way from Denver to visit Lucas in Pueblo when she was last seen alive. She was reportedly pregnant with Lucas' child, local outlet KKTV reports.

District Attorney Jeff Chostner told KDVR that “Roxann was endorsed as a prosecution witness" in Lucas' upcoming trial. He said he couldn’t comment further, due to an ongoing investigation.

KCNC-TV described Martinez as a “star witness" in the case.

At the moment, police said they do not feel that Martinez’s death is related to whatever information she may have had regarding Schelling's death.

“Investigators are aware of her connection to that trial, but at this time do not think her death is connected to that case,” a Denver police representative told KDVR.

The Denver Police Department did not immediately respond to Oxygen.com’s request for comment.

Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward information in the case. Anyone with information is urged to anonymously contact them at (720) 913-7867.