77 homicides in year four of Mile High Murder: See where they happened, part one

Example: Last year on this date, the archive's total was 49. This year, it's 77 -- so many that in order to include interactive maps, videos or photos from each, we had to break the list into two sections. See part one below and click to access part two.

A couple of things to note at the outset. First of all, the big jump in the total isn't solely attributable to the Aurora theater shooting, in which twelve people died, or the massacre at Fero's Bar and Grill, where five people lost their lives. Subtract those numbers and the sum is still eleven higher than in year three, with a startling number of high-profile deaths occurring along the way -- including that of Jessica Ridgeway, seen above, whose disappearance first riveted and then shocked the community.

Also worthy of note: The list starts at 79 because somewhere along the way, the count got confused; there's no 34 or 37. It's possible that something originally thought to have been a murder turned out to be something else and the posts in question were given new, headline-free numbers. But it's just as likely that we simply lost track amid the shocking number of killings -- another indication of how tough the past twelve months have been.

Here's the list, complete with links to our original coverage.

Number 79: "Sandra Schreiber allegedly stabbed elderly husband to death, turned knife on herself (79)."

Number 78: "Man stabbed to death in apartment on 1100 block of Yosemite in Aurora (78)."

Number 77: "Taylor Bandy accused of killing Antonio Hill in second recent murder at a local Denny's (77)."

Number 76: "Maria Rodela identified as victim in murder-attempted suicide witnessed by family (76)."

Number 75: "Chris Haney, Gothic Theatre staffer, dies in Denny's shooting, Robert Bernal busted (75)."

Number 74: "Shawn Lopez: Did he kill homeless woman for a thrill, then buy chewing tobacco (74)."

Number 73: "Miguel Angel Ita, fifteen, should be charged as an adult with Lakewood murder, DA says (73)."

Number 72: "Daryl Thompson Sr. and Jr., held for Charles Harris killing: "Mad Dog" past questions (72)."

Number 71: "Christopher Bryant killed outside Primo's Sports Bar in Aurora, family reeling (71)."

Continue for more of our post "77 homicides in year four of Mile High Murder: See where they happened." Number 70: "Isaiah Moreno arrested in fatal stabbing of Estevan Ruiz on RTD bus (70)."

Number 69: "Jeremy Wilson ID'd as homicide victim shot near 26th and Bryant (69)."