Diol–Beye Family Murders
Arson Family Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
TIME PERIOD
August 5, 2020
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
The Diol–Beye family murders occurred during an arson attack on August 5, 2020, at 5312 Truckee Street in Denver, Colorado, resulting in the deaths of five Senegalese immigrants. The attack was carried out by three teenagers—Kevin Bui, Gavin Seymour, and Dillon Siebert—who mistakenly sought revenge for a stolen phone, believing it was located at the victims' residence. The perpetrators entered the home around 1:00 AM, doused the living room with gasoline, and ignited the fire, which was captured on a neighbor's security camera. The victims included Djibril Diol, his wife Adja, their daughter Khadija, Djibril's sister Hassan, and Hassan's infant daughter Hawa, all of whom died from smoke inhalation. The investigation utilized cell phone data, geofence warrants, and keyword searches, leading to the arrest of the suspects, who were charged with multiple counts of murder and arson.
The three teenagers believed they were exacting revenge for a stolen phone, mistakenly tracing it to the Diol–Beye family's home. There is speculation about the motivations behind their actions, with some suggesting a deeper issue of gang involvement or a desire to assert dominance in their community. Additionally, discussions have emerged regarding the adequacy of the legal consequences faced by the perpetrators, considering the tragic loss of life.
The Diol-Beye Family Murders: A Tragic Tale of Mistaken Revenge
A Night of Devastation in Denver
In the early hours of August 5, 2020, a quiet neighborhood in northeastern Denver, Colorado, became the scene of an unimaginable tragedy. As the city slumbered, a fire erupted at 5312 Truckee Street, engulfing the home of two Senegalese immigrant families. This inferno, deliberately set by three teenagers, would claim the lives of five individuals and forever alter countless others.
Background: A Misguided Quest for Vengeance
This story began with a simple but fateful mistake. Kevin Bui, a 16-year-old from Lakewood, found himself the victim of a robbery in July 2020. He had been attempting to purchase a gun when his phone and cash were stolen. Desperate to reclaim his belongings, Bui used Apple's Find My feature, which pointed him to the home at 5312 Truckee Street. Unbeknownst to him, the technology could be inaccurate by hundreds of miles, and the address was completely unrelated to his stolen items.
The house he targeted was home to nine people, including the families of Amadou Sow and Djibril "Djiby" Diol. These families, who had sought a better life in America, were about to become victims of a senseless act of violence.
The Attack: A Night of Horror
On the night of August 4-5, 2020, Bui enlisted the help of two friends, 15-year-old Gavin Seymour and 14-year-old Dillon Siebert. Together, they concocted a plan for retribution. Armed with masks from Party City and gasoline, the trio set out for the address they believed to be the source of their woes.
Arriving around 1:00 AM, they discovered the back door unlocked and quietly slipped inside. They proceeded to douse the living room with gasoline, igniting a blaze that quickly consumed the home. At 2:40 AM, as the flames roared, a neighbor's security camera captured the three figures fleeing the scene.
The Innocent Lives Lost
The fire's toll was devastating. Djibril Diol, a 29-year-old civil engineer, perished alongside his wife, 23-year-old Adja Diol, and their nearly two-year-old daughter Khadija. Djibril's sister, 25-year-old Hassan Diol, and her seven-month-old daughter Hawa Beye also lost their lives, all succumbing to smoke inhalation.
Miraculously, three individuals managed to escape by leaping from second-story windows. Amadou Sow suffered a fractured foot, his wife Hawa Ka sustained spinal fractures, and their 10-year-old daughter Adama survived the harrowing ordeal.
The Investigation: Uncovering the Truth
The investigation into the fire was spearheaded by Denver Police Department detectives Neil Baker and Ernest Sandoval. Initially hindered by scant evidence, they turned to technology to crack the case. They utilized cell phone tower data, geofence warrants to Google, and a keyword search warrant to uncover leads.
The breakthrough came with a search warrant compelling Google to reveal information on users who had searched for "5312 Truckee Street" in the weeks preceding the fire. This pivotal step led investigators directly to Kevin Bui and his accomplices.
Legal Proceedings: Navigating Digital Privacy
The three teenagers were arrested on January 27, 2021, sparking a heated legal debate over digital privacy. Defense attorneys challenged the validity of the reverse keyword search warrant, labeling it an unconstitutional "digital dragnet."
In October 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court delivered its verdict. While it acknowledged the warrant's "constitutionally defective" nature due to a lack of individualized probable cause, it ultimately upheld its legality, citing its narrow parameters and computer-based execution.
Sentencing: Justice Served
Faced with overwhelming evidence, all three defendants accepted plea bargains. Kevin Bui, the ringleader, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in May 2024 and was sentenced to 60 years in prison in July 2024. Gavin Seymour, who pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder, received a 40-year prison sentence in March 2024. Dillon Siebert, a juvenile at the time of the attack, was sentenced in February 2023 to a total of 10 years, comprising three years in juvenile detention and seven years in a young offender program.
Conclusion
The Diol-Beye family murders serve as a grim reminder of the tragic consequences of misguided actions. What began as a quest for personal justice ended in a horrific loss of life and shattered dreams. As the legal system delivered its judgments, the families of the victims were left to grapple with their grief and the painful legacy of that fateful night.
Sources
- Vasudevan, Raksha. "3 Teens Almost Got Away With Murder. Then Police Found Their Google Searches." Wired. May 21, 2025.
- "Colo. Man Pleads Guilty to 2020 House Fire That Killed Family of 5, Including 2 Children." Yahoo News. May 18, 2024.
- McRae, Jennifer. "Colorado teen sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty in deadly arson that killed 5 - CBS Colorado." March 15, 2024.
- "Teen gets 40 years in prison for Denver house fire that killed 5 from Senegal." AP News. March 16, 2024.
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Arson Attack
Three teenagers set fire to a home, killing five family members.
Victims Identified
Five members of the Diol and Beye families die from smoke inhalation.
Suspects Arrested
Kevin Bui, Gavin Seymour, and Dillon Siebert are arrested for the arson murders.
Siebert Sentenced
Dillon Siebert is sentenced to 10 years for his role in the arson.
Seymour Sentenced
Gavin Seymour pleads guilty and is sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Bui Sentenced
Kevin Bui pleads guilty and is sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Supreme Court Ruling
Colorado Supreme Court rules on the legality of the search warrant used in the case.
The Diol–Beye family murders occurred during an arson attack on August 5, 2020, at 5312 Truckee Street in Denver, Colorado, resulting in the deaths of five Senegalese immigrants. The attack was carried out by three teenagers—Kevin Bui, Gavin Seymour, and Dillon Siebert—who mistakenly sought revenge for a stolen phone, believing it was located at the victims' residence. The perpetrators entered the home around 1:00 AM, doused the living room with gasoline, and ignited the fire, which was captured on a neighbor's security camera. The victims included Djibril Diol, his wife Adja, their daughter Khadija, Djibril's sister Hassan, and Hassan's infant daughter Hawa, all of whom died from smoke inhalation. The investigation utilized cell phone data, geofence warrants, and keyword searches, leading to the arrest of the suspects, who were charged with multiple counts of murder and arson.
The three teenagers believed they were exacting revenge for a stolen phone, mistakenly tracing it to the Diol–Beye family's home. There is speculation about the motivations behind their actions, with some suggesting a deeper issue of gang involvement or a desire to assert dominance in their community. Additionally, discussions have emerged regarding the adequacy of the legal consequences faced by the perpetrators, considering the tragic loss of life.
The Diol-Beye Family Murders: A Tragic Tale of Mistaken Revenge
A Night of Devastation in Denver
In the early hours of August 5, 2020, a quiet neighborhood in northeastern Denver, Colorado, became the scene of an unimaginable tragedy. As the city slumbered, a fire erupted at 5312 Truckee Street, engulfing the home of two Senegalese immigrant families. This inferno, deliberately set by three teenagers, would claim the lives of five individuals and forever alter countless others.
Background: A Misguided Quest for Vengeance
This story began with a simple but fateful mistake. Kevin Bui, a 16-year-old from Lakewood, found himself the victim of a robbery in July 2020. He had been attempting to purchase a gun when his phone and cash were stolen. Desperate to reclaim his belongings, Bui used Apple's Find My feature, which pointed him to the home at 5312 Truckee Street. Unbeknownst to him, the technology could be inaccurate by hundreds of miles, and the address was completely unrelated to his stolen items.
The house he targeted was home to nine people, including the families of Amadou Sow and Djibril "Djiby" Diol. These families, who had sought a better life in America, were about to become victims of a senseless act of violence.
The Attack: A Night of Horror
On the night of August 4-5, 2020, Bui enlisted the help of two friends, 15-year-old Gavin Seymour and 14-year-old Dillon Siebert. Together, they concocted a plan for retribution. Armed with masks from Party City and gasoline, the trio set out for the address they believed to be the source of their woes.
Arriving around 1:00 AM, they discovered the back door unlocked and quietly slipped inside. They proceeded to douse the living room with gasoline, igniting a blaze that quickly consumed the home. At 2:40 AM, as the flames roared, a neighbor's security camera captured the three figures fleeing the scene.
The Innocent Lives Lost
The fire's toll was devastating. Djibril Diol, a 29-year-old civil engineer, perished alongside his wife, 23-year-old Adja Diol, and their nearly two-year-old daughter Khadija. Djibril's sister, 25-year-old Hassan Diol, and her seven-month-old daughter Hawa Beye also lost their lives, all succumbing to smoke inhalation.
Miraculously, three individuals managed to escape by leaping from second-story windows. Amadou Sow suffered a fractured foot, his wife Hawa Ka sustained spinal fractures, and their 10-year-old daughter Adama survived the harrowing ordeal.
The Investigation: Uncovering the Truth
The investigation into the fire was spearheaded by Denver Police Department detectives Neil Baker and Ernest Sandoval. Initially hindered by scant evidence, they turned to technology to crack the case. They utilized cell phone tower data, geofence warrants to Google, and a keyword search warrant to uncover leads.
The breakthrough came with a search warrant compelling Google to reveal information on users who had searched for "5312 Truckee Street" in the weeks preceding the fire. This pivotal step led investigators directly to Kevin Bui and his accomplices.
Legal Proceedings: Navigating Digital Privacy
The three teenagers were arrested on January 27, 2021, sparking a heated legal debate over digital privacy. Defense attorneys challenged the validity of the reverse keyword search warrant, labeling it an unconstitutional "digital dragnet."
In October 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court delivered its verdict. While it acknowledged the warrant's "constitutionally defective" nature due to a lack of individualized probable cause, it ultimately upheld its legality, citing its narrow parameters and computer-based execution.
Sentencing: Justice Served
Faced with overwhelming evidence, all three defendants accepted plea bargains. Kevin Bui, the ringleader, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in May 2024 and was sentenced to 60 years in prison in July 2024. Gavin Seymour, who pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder, received a 40-year prison sentence in March 2024. Dillon Siebert, a juvenile at the time of the attack, was sentenced in February 2023 to a total of 10 years, comprising three years in juvenile detention and seven years in a young offender program.
Conclusion
The Diol-Beye family murders serve as a grim reminder of the tragic consequences of misguided actions. What began as a quest for personal justice ended in a horrific loss of life and shattered dreams. As the legal system delivered its judgments, the families of the victims were left to grapple with their grief and the painful legacy of that fateful night.
Sources
- Vasudevan, Raksha. "3 Teens Almost Got Away With Murder. Then Police Found Their Google Searches." Wired. May 21, 2025.
- "Colo. Man Pleads Guilty to 2020 House Fire That Killed Family of 5, Including 2 Children." Yahoo News. May 18, 2024.
- McRae, Jennifer. "Colorado teen sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty in deadly arson that killed 5 - CBS Colorado." March 15, 2024.
- "Teen gets 40 years in prison for Denver house fire that killed 5 from Senegal." AP News. March 16, 2024.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Arson Attack
Three teenagers set fire to a home, killing five family members.
Victims Identified
Five members of the Diol and Beye families die from smoke inhalation.
Suspects Arrested
Kevin Bui, Gavin Seymour, and Dillon Siebert are arrested for the arson murders.
Siebert Sentenced
Dillon Siebert is sentenced to 10 years for his role in the arson.
Seymour Sentenced
Gavin Seymour pleads guilty and is sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Bui Sentenced
Kevin Bui pleads guilty and is sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Supreme Court Ruling
Colorado Supreme Court rules on the legality of the search warrant used in the case.