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Last Defendant Sentenced In Salida Slaying

James Durgan's Body Found Floating In Arkansas River

POSTED: 10:41 am MDT October 27, 2009

The last defendant charged in the execution slaying of a Salida man has been handed a life sentence plus 14 years.

Andrew Tanner, 23, was sentenced Monday for the July 2008 shooting death of 37-year-old James Durgan.

Durgan's body was found floating in the Arkansas River with three gunshot wounds to his head after he was reported missing on a business trip to Canon City, Colo.

Tanner's estranged wife, Kristin Durgan, 41, of Salida, was previously sentenced to 54 years in prison in connection with the slaying. Testimony revealed she lured her husband to a remote spot where he was handcuffed to a tree and then shot in the head.

Another man, Brian Folsom, 30, of Poncha Springs was sentenced earlier to 48 years in prison in connection with the same crime.

During the trials, testimony revealed Folsom tied James Durgan to a tree and covered Durgan's eyes and mouth with duct tape. He then drew a map for Tanner of where he left Durgan. Tanner ate the map and later told Kristin Durgan that he shot her husband and dumped his body in the river, according to testimony.

Both Folsom and Kristin Durgan testified against Tanner in his trial.

A consecutive 10-year sentence for kidnapping and four-year sentence for being an accessory after the fact was added to Tanner's life sentence by the judge.

Prosecutors said that Kristin Durgan was addicted to gambling and wanted her estranged husband murdered so she could collect his life insurance and keep their home in Salida.

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