Subject: Investigations

• Following a Leak to its Source

  October 20, 2006

• The Cold, Hard Facts

  October 11, 2006

• Look of the Day - Orchid Mei

  February 1, 2008

• Cops in MySpace

  March 11, 2008

• “Naughty” Nottingham: When Judges Go Bad

  March 14, 2008

• Glendale John, Flushed

  May 24, 2008

• A tough month for Colorado kitchen disasters

  First, the historic Branch Inn in Pueblo was wiped right off the map by a massive explosion; last Friday, authorities announced that their investigation into the disaster had concluded it was an accident. That's undoubtedly the same conclusion they'll reach in the southeast corner of the state, where three people died in a restaurant fire in Springfield last Friday. The victims -- Rocky Michael Saldana, Pamela Saldana and their son, Jazz Michael Saldana -- were the owners of the Home Town B

  November 24, 2008

• Colorado Crimes: The disadvantages of robbing someone you know

  Brandon Gaitan. According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Brandon Gaitan and Keith Paris II, both 19, had what must have seemed like a good idea at the time: break into the apartment of someone on vacation and do whatever for as long as they wanted. Problem is, said vacationer returned home to find them still hanging out. Gaitan and Paris reportedly responded by drawing guns, taking some shit and splitting. Problem: the victim knew who they were. And now he knows where they are -- in cu

  June 4, 2009

• Best Place to Get Head on Santa Fe

  March 27, 2003

• Best Sophomore Non-Fiction Book

  March 27, 2003

• Follow That Story

  May 22, 2003

• Best Online Source for Mountaineering Activities

  March 24, 2005

• A Cure for the Common Cold Case

  A Colorado task force keeps hope alive for families of the dead.

  February 14, 2008

• The Big Nix

  November 9, 2006

• Made for Each Other

  The Karr fiasco is over, but Michael Tracey's quest for unlikely suspects in the Ramsey case goes on and on.

  October 12, 2006

• Strip Search

  Jennifer Marcum's path ends and begins at Shotgun Willie's.

  June 29, 2006

• Comeback Kid

  Wednesday, March 8, Marquis Theatre, 1-866-468-7621.

  March 2, 2006

• Student Aid

  CU is keeping tabs on Colorado's cold cases.

  December 18, 2003

• A Cure for the Common Cold Case

  Greg Tyner is a man on a mission.

  December 18, 2003

• Female Trouble

  A guard's acquittal, new leadership -- and more allegations of misconduct at YOS.

  April 24, 2003

• Malpractice Makes Perfect

  Her father's death turned Debra Malone into a crusader for patients' rights.

  October 14, 1999

• Off Limits

  The Santa Clause...

  September 30, 1999

• Private Eyeful

  March 12, 1998

• Trouble at Plutoniumville

  Boeing considers sending the Rocky Flats criminal case back to square one.

  October 9, 1997

• While You Were Away

  September 4, 1997

• Occupational Hazards

  Columbine College students thought they had a future in the floral industry. But their hopes could wither on the vine.

  April 4, 1996

• CHILL THE MESSENGER

  August 24, 1994

• Death-penalty bill: Politicos willing to raise taxes to keep the killing option open

  A Flickr photo You've got to admit it was a legislative masterstroke. As a House-passed bill to end capital punishment in Colorado and use the approximately $900,000 in savings to investigate so-called "cold cases" neared a Senate vote, opponents led by Democratic senator John Morse and Republican senator Josh Penry came up with a compromise: Keep the death penalty and finance a cold-case team via an additional $2.50 surcharge on those convicted of a crime. There's another vote today, and suppo

  May 5, 2009

• Victim identified in off-highway crash; illegal immigrant may have caused another fatal accident

  The driver and passenger involved in a crash at 56th Avenue and E-470 noted in the Wednesday blog "Speed Kills in Off-Highway Crash" have been identified as Nelson Starks, 49, of Denver (who died as a result of the accident), and Frankie Biggs, 25, Starks' stepson, who was hospitalized. Then, last night, a motorcyclist died in a crash involving a car -- and police have reason to suspect that the driver of the car was in this country illegally. Alert Peter Boyles. Read the release about the lat

  May 14, 2009

• Colorado Crimes: Another scary sketch from Boulder PD

  A Boulder Police Department sketch of a suspect in a "suspicious incident." The Boulder Police Department put out an unusual release a short time ago, involving an incident that may have been a crime -- or it might have been perfectly innocent. On Monday, a pre-teen girl was approached by a man outside a closed recreation center, who asked if she wanted a ride. She said "no" and walked away -- and that was the end of that, fortunately. But in case the man's intentions were criminal and predato

  May 20, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 2: Broomfield police shoot man who killed his wife

  View Larger Map The release from the Broomfield Police Department sported the most routine of subject lines: "Domestic Violence Call." But it was clearly not a standard incident. According to the BPD, a Broomfield man living at 13005 Lowell Boulevard, along a stretch of the street captured in the graphic above (if you have trouble seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"), was shot and killed by local police after he did the same to his wife. At this point, Broomfield spokesman Mark Goodell is

  May 26, 2009

• Boulder Police find three bodies in home on 2400 block of Bluff Street

  View Larger Map This morning, officers with the Boulder Police Department discovered three bodies in a residence located on the 2400 block of Bluff Street -- an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). At this point, the BPD hasn't identified the bodies and isn't revealing whether or not the deaths qualify as homicides. However, there were what's described as "obvious signs of trauma." Read the BPD release below:

  May 26, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 10: Nadine Nicole Montoya now wanted in 6th Avenue and Broadway hit and run

  Nadine Nicole Montoya. Following a May 29 hit-and-run that killed 49-year-old Lillian Verdonkschot near a Burger King in the vicinity of West 6th Avenue and Broadway, the Denver Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect named Dawn Marie Gonzales -- but a few days later, Gonzales was released. Now the DPD has another suspect in its sites: Nadine Nicole Montoya, 26. After the jump, find the latest department release, as well as a graphic showing the scene (if you have problems seeing th

  June 12, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 17: Velma Lee Gilbert charged in murder on 1300 block of Xanadu Street

  Velma Lee Gilbert. It had been almost a week since the Mile High Murder count moved up -- meaning that there had been no new slayings in the seven-county metro area since the June 10 homicide of Eugene Velarde at the intersection of 17th and Sheridan. Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end. Last evening, a man died from a gunshot wound sustained at the 1300 block of Xanadu Street in Aurora, an area captured in a graphic perusable after the jump (if you have problems seeing the i

  June 18, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 17: Joseph Lee Jiles identified as victim in June 17 shooting on Xanadu Street

  Velma Lee Gilbert. Last week, Velma Lee Gilbert was arrested in connection with a homicide on the 1300 block of Xanadu Street, an area captured in a graphic embedded after the jump (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). Now, the Aurora Police Department has identified the victim: Jospeh Lee Jiles, twenty. The department's brief release, along with a more detailed one that preceded it just over a week ago, can be found below as well.

  June 26, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 10: Nadine Nicole Montoya arrested in 6th and Broadway hit-and-run

  Nadine Nicole Montoya. The investigation into the hit-and-run death of Lilian Verdonkschot, 49, has gone through several permutations since the incident took place on May 29. Dawn Marie Gonzales was taken into custody in connection with the crime, only to be subsequently released -- and afterward, the Denver Police Department representatives announced that a first-degree-murder warrant had been sworn out for another woman, Nadine Nicole Montoya. Now, the DPD reveals that Montoya turned herself

  June 19, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 32: Britt Allan Cox charged in arson death of Bonnie Bergin

  Bonnie Bergin.​Yesterday, the Lakewood Police Department announced that it was investigating a house fire last week on West 20th Avenue as a homicide; Bonnie Bergin, 49, who'd been renting the home, was found dead inside. Now, the LPD has made an arrest. Brit Allan Cox, 40, has been formally accused of first-degree murder. He was questioned after the blaze, then busted on Wednesday in a stolen car; he was in custody when officials decided to level the murder charge against him -- and there

  August 7, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 36: Homicide victim found in motel on 9200 block of East Colfax in Aurora

  View Larger Map A grisly find this morning at a motel on the 9200 block of East Colfax, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). Aurora Police Department reps found a dead man whose upper body showed such clear signs of trauma that the cops aren't waiting for a coroner's report to begin investigating the case as a homicide. Look below to read the APD's account.

  September 10, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 36: Shayne Miller sought in motel homicide on 9200 block of East Colfax

  Shayne Miller.​Yesterday, representatives from the Aurora Police Department found a still unidentified dead man in a motel on the 9200 block of East Colfax whose upper body showed such signs of trauma that they immediately began investigating the case as a homicide. Now, the APD is looking for Shayne Miller, 35, and are offering a $1,000 reward for information that helps them find him. However, he has not been identified as a suspect, even though the motel room in question is believed to h

  September 11, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 36: Michael Curtis was victim in motel slaying on 9200 block of East Colfax

  View Larger Map In recent days, we've learned plenty about the investigation into a slaying last week at a motel on the 9200 block of East Colfax, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). At first, Aurora Police Department reps said they were looking for Shayne Miller, 35, out of concern for his welfare. Shortly thereafter, Miller went from person of interest to arrested suspect; he and a second man, Jesse Dennis Dimmick, were buste

  September 15, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 42: Homicide at 3042 Humboldt Street

  View Larger Map Here's a development sure to freak out residents living in the vicinity of 3042 Humboldt Street, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). Early this morning, the Denver Police Department responded to a burglary call at the address -- and they soon discovered the body of a 47-year-old woman. She's yet to be identified, pending notification of next of kin. Look below to read the DPD release.

  October 8, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 44: Multiple shots kill man at 1150 N. Syracuse Street

  View Larger Map On Friday evening, shots rang out at 1150 N. Syracuse Street, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). When Denver Police arrived, they discovered a dead man with multiple gunshot wounds. It won't surprise you to learn that the DPD thinks a homicide took place -- but they're not saying much else at this point. Check out the original release below:

  October 19, 2009

• Police: Don't let James Craig help your daughter onto a pommel horse

  James Craig, accused of being one sick bastard.​For a certain brand of pervert, working as a coach at a kids gymnastics school would constitute a dream job -- and if the Aurora Police Department has 35-year-old James Craig pegged right, that dream is over. Craig, who worked at the Saddle Rock School of Gymnastics, has been arrested in relation to accusations of inappropriate sexual contact with an underage teenage girl. It's a single count thus far, but the APD has gone out of its way to s

  October 22, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 45: Death in Chopsticks & Sushi Restaurant on the 16th Street Mall

  An image from the Chopsticks & Sushi Restaurant website.​When does the media give big play to a murder of an unknown individual? Like real estate, it's all about location, location, location -- but timing is a factor, too, as proven by the coverage of yesterday afternoon's shooting at Chopsticks & Sushi Restaurant, 1630 Welton Street, on the 16th Street Mall. Because the killing took place at just past 3:30 p.m., two blocks of the busy area had to be closed to traffic for hours, turning th

  October 23, 2009

• Wake-Up Call: The next election's a year away, and we're still cleaning up 2006

  ​The 2010 election is less than a year away, and judging from this past Tuesday's vote, things are going to get plenty messy. But here in Colorado, we're still cleaning up after the dirty dealings of 2006. The gubernatorial race was particularly bad, with 527s and party operatives pushing the candidacy of Republican Bob Beauprez and going hard against Democrat Bill Ritter. The use of a drunken-driving death against the former Denver District Attorney was a particularly egregious twisting

  November 6, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 49: John Singleton dies of wounds in Club Posh shootings

  Photo by Drew JaynesA Club Posh graphic from our opening night slideshow.​Earlier this week, we told you about shootings at Club Posh, 4040 E. Evans, which turned a Halloween party into a true horror show. Now, one of the trio who took bullets that evening -- John Singleton, 29 -- has died of his wounds. Still no suspects according to the Denver Police Department. For a look at a happier moment in Club Posh's history, check out a slideshow of its debut in February -- and read the DPD's re

  November 6, 2009

• Mile High Murder, No. 55: Body found near dumpster in alley between 4300 blocks of York and Josephine

  View Larger Map There's been a rash of killings in the metro area this week, with the Denver Police Department discovering the fourth a few hours ago. A body was found by a dumpster in the 4300 block alley between York Street and Josephine Street, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). Thus far, the DPD isn't saying what took the life of the person in question -- just that the incident is being investigated as a homicide. Look bel

  November 19, 2009