Stabbing at Staunton State Park? Officials Say It Was a Hoax.

On the morning of Tuesday, August 19, Callum Heskett, a Colorado Parks & Wildlife Seasonal Ranger at Staunton State Park, radioed for help, saying he’d been stabbed. Heskett told the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office that the suspect ran away from the scene, and he even gave a description of the alleged attacker, saying it was a male who appeared to be in his thirties with dark hair.

The park was shut down for the day as law enforcement, including SWAT and drone operators, searched for the suspect, and 8,600 residents in the immediate area received a lookout alert. Heskett, 26, was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he is in stable condition. Two people of interest were detained, interviewed and determined to have no involvement, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

Then things got weirder.

At 2 p.m. today, August 21, Heskett was the one arrested for the stabbing. According to the Jeffco Sheriff's Office, his story was "flawed and erroneous," and Heskett now faces felony charges for attempting to influence a public servant and tampering with evidence, as well as misdemeanor charges of false reporting to authorities, reckless endangerment and obstructing government operations.

“As the investigation progressed, inconsistencies in Heskett’s statements emerged. That, along with other conflicting and questionable evidence, further raised concerns about the validity of his allegations,” the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office says in a press release. “After investigators conducted their first interview with Heskett, it became even more clear that his story was flawed and erroneous.”

Heskett's bond was set at $10,000.

“CPW appreciates the county sheriff’s professionalism and partnership in investigating this incident and will share additional information as this matter develops,” a statement from Parks & Wildlife reads.

Located west of Conifer, Staunton State Park sits in both Jefferson and Park counties. The park opened in 2013, with a significant amount of its 3,900 acres was gifted to the State of Colorado by Frances H. Staunton.

It was Colorado's 41st state park.