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Who Is Travis Forbes & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

by · May 29, 2026

Travis Forbes became one of Colorado’s most notorious convicted killers after admitting to the 2011 murder of 19-year-old Kenia Monge and the attempted murder of another woman, Lydia Tillman. His crimes shocked investigators because of the calculated steps he took to conceal evidence and the violent pattern that emerged once authorities connected multiple cases.

For months after Kenia disappeared, Forbes presented himself as a helpful witness and attempted to distance himself from suspicion. He spoke with police, appeared in media interviews, and repeated a story that investigators later determined was false. The case remained unresolved until a second victim survived a brutal attack, providing the evidence authorities needed to expose him.

Travis Forbes Before the Murder Investigation

At the time of Kenia Monge’s disappearance, Travis Forbes was 31 years old and living in the Denver area. He operated a small gluten-free granola business and rented space at a bakery where some of the later investigation would focus. To many people, he appeared to be an ordinary businessman attempting to build a career.

Behind that image was a lengthy criminal history. Investigators later revealed that Forbes had prior arrests and legal problems involving burglary, harassment, probation violations, and domestic violence-related offenses. Law enforcement would eventually view those earlier incidents as warning signs that had not prevented him from continuing to offend.

When Kenia vanished in April 2011, Forbes immediately drew attention because he was one of the last known people to see her alive. A text message he sent after giving her a ride placed him directly into the investigation. That message would become one of the earliest clues pointing detectives toward him.

His Connection to Kenia Monge

According to investigators, Forbes encountered Kenia outside Denver’s 24K Lounge during the early morning hours of April 1, 2011. She had become separated from friends and was without her purse, phone, and keys. Forbes later claimed he was trying to help her get home safely after finding her alone and intoxicated.

When questioned by police, Forbes said he picked Kenia up and drove her toward a gas station before she allegedly left with another man. Detectives soon identified problems with his story. Surveillance footage, witness statements, and cell phone records failed to support key parts of his account. Investigators also noticed a strong odor of bleach coming from his van, raising concerns that evidence had been destroyed.

Although police suspected Forbes early in the investigation, they lacked enough evidence to charge him. For months he remained free while detectives continued searching for Kenia and trying to prove what had happened after she entered his vehicle.

The Murder of Kenia Monge

After his eventual arrest, Forbes admitted what happened inside his van. According to court records and his confession, Kenia lost consciousness after entering the vehicle. Forbes said he sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. When she regained consciousness and fought back, he strangled her.

Investigators later uncovered surveillance footage showing Forbes transporting a large cooler into the bakery he rented. Prosecutors believed he temporarily stored Kenia’s body there before disposing of it. Detectives also discovered evidence that he used bleach extensively and burned items behind the bakery in an effort to destroy evidence.

Months after the murder, Forbes led authorities to a shallow grave in Weld County near Interstate 76. Kenia’s remains were recovered on September 7, 2011, more than five months after she disappeared. The discovery finally gave her family answers after months of uncertainty and searching.

The Attack on Lydia Tillman

The breakthrough that solved Kenia’s case came because another victim survived.

On July 4, 2011, Fort Collins resident Lydia Tillman was attacked after returning home. Prosecutors said Forbes followed her into her apartment, sexually assaulted her, beat her, strangled her, poured bleach on her, and set the apartment on fire before leaving her for dead. Despite severe injuries, Lydia escaped through a second-story window and survived.

DNA recovered from beneath Lydia’s fingernails matched Forbes. That evidence gave investigators the proof they had been missing for months. Once arrested, Forbes could no longer avoid responsibility. The DNA match connected him to the attack and ultimately led to his confession in Kenia’s murder case.

Many investigators later stated that Lydia’s survival was the reason Forbes was finally stopped. Without her testimony and the DNA evidence, prosecutors may have faced far greater difficulty proving his involvement in Kenia’s disappearance and death.

Guilty Pleas and Sentencing

In September 2011, Forbes entered guilty pleas that ended the possibility of a lengthy trial. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Kenia Monge’s death and received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The plea agreement spared him from facing the death penalty.

He also pleaded guilty to charges connected to the attack on Lydia Tillman. For those crimes, he received an additional 48-year prison sentence that was ordered to run consecutively to his life sentence. The combined punishment ensured he would never return to society.

During court proceedings, Forbes described his actions as horrible and cowardly. Kenia’s family confronted him about the suffering he caused and spoke about the months they spent searching for their daughter while he concealed the truth.

Where Is Travis Forbes Now?

As of recent reports, Travis Forbes remains incarcerated in Colorado serving life without parole for the murder of Kenia Monge along with his additional sentence for the attempted murder of Lydia Tillman. Multiple reports place him within the Colorado prison system, with recent accounts identifying Fremont Correctional Facility in Florence, Colorado, as his current location.

Earlier reports listed him within the Colorado State Penitentiary system because of the severity of his crimes and security classification. Regardless of facility placement, his sentence ensures he will spend the remainder of his life in prison. He is not eligible for parole and has no path to release.

More than a decade after his conviction, Travis Forbes remains remembered as the man responsible for one of Colorado’s most disturbing murder cases. His crimes left lasting damage for Kenia Monge’s family, Lydia Tillman, and countless others affected by the investigation that followed.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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