The results of the state’s investigation into last fall’s Platte Canyon High School shooting are scheduled to be released to the public on Tuesday, Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener said Wednesday.
The five-volume report, completed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, provides details of the shooting that occurred on Sept. 27 in Bailey.
Duane Morrison, a 53-year-old drifter, took seven female students hostage at the high school and shot 16-year-old Emily Keyes before killing himself. During his rampage, Morrison sexually assaulted some of the girls.
“By law, we are forbidden from releasing the identities of juveniles as well as any information that could identify the victims of sexual assault,” Wegener said in a prepared statement. “We are busily sifting through the massive amount of details to eliminate the restricted information for the protection of those individuals and their families.”
The report contains information about tips detectives pursued while investigating the shooting, said Park County Attorney Steve Groome.
A 13-page letter that Morrison sent to his family is contained in the report, along with an FBI behavioral analysis of the letter, Groome said.
Victims and their families will be given a special presentation of the material in a meeting with the sheriff.
DENVER
Readers offer support for ailing dog Stella
A golden retriever who fell gravely ill after eating dog food that has since been recalled was undergoing holistic treatment Wednesday afternoon in an effort to save its life.
The 5 1/2-year-old dog, Stella, fell sick almost two weeks ago. After The Denver Post told Stella’s story on Wednesday, the dog’s owner, Stu McFadden, received dozens of phone calls from readers offering their support, prayers and home remedies.
“I want to thank everyone for their pet remedies, which went anywhere from two shots of whiskey, raw hamburger to plain yogurt,” McFadden said. “Everyone has just been wonderful.”
Stella has still not eaten since she became ill 12 days ago and has vomited everything she has had to drink. McFadden had given her dog food from Menu Foods, which is sold under numerous popular brands.
McFadden had said he did not want Stella to suffer so he planned on having her euthanized today. But he said he is going to wait a little longer, holding out hope that his pooch will pull through – somehow.
“I’m going to give her a little more time. She has to get better – or sicker before I put her down,” he said.
DENVER
Cops look into report of abduction attempt
Denver police were investigating a report of an attempted abduction Wednesday near Colorado Christian School.
Police said a man attempted to pull a girl into a van near the school at 200 S. University Blvd., but she was able to break free by kicking him, and she alerted an adult.
The vehicle was described as an older black van with dents, police said.
Officers immediately responded to the area and searched the surrounding neighborhood for the vehicle but did not locate the suspect or the vehicle, police said.
DENVER
355 DUI arrests made on St. Pat’s weekend
Fifty-nine Colorado law enforcement agencies made 355 DUI arrests during St. Patrick’s Day weekend as part of a statewide crackdown, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Denver police made 29 arrests, while the Colorado State Patrol made 106 arrests.
The crackdown came as part of the “Heat Is On” campaign.
DENVER
Zoo exhibit remains closed after mauling
The Denver Zoo’s feline building has no timetable for a reopening while the investigations of several agencies continue into the fatal mauling of a zookeeper last month, zoo spokeswoman Ana Bowie said Wednesday.
The exhibit has been closed since Feb. 24 when 28-year-old zookeeper Ashlee Pfaff was mauled to death by Jorge, a 140-pound jaguar.
A preliminary investigation showed that a door between Pfaff and Jorge’s enclosure was open at the time of the attack. Because Pfaff was alone at the time, authorities don’t know why the door was not locked.
Denver police, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums continue to investigate the incident.
ENGLEWOOD
Katrina worker accused in teen’s rape
An Englewood man who was doing cleanup work after Hurricane Katrina has been arrested on suspicion of raping the 14-year-old daughter of a girlfriend, authorities say.
Kenneth J. Vaughn, 40, was arrested Monday in Slidell, La., for investigation of forcible rape, said Capt. Kevin Foltz, spokesman for the Slidell Police Department.
Vaughn was living in a Motel 6 with the victim’s mother, a housekeeper at the hotel, and her two children, including the 14-year-old victim, Foltz said.
Between Halloween and Thanksgiving last year, the suspect took care of the teen and her 11-year-old brother while their mother was incarcerated as she awaited extradition to Colorado for writing bad checks, he said.
Vaughn was drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana one night when he raped the girl while her brother slept in the next bed, police said.
The girl’s mother sent her back to Colorado to live with family. She told a relative, who reported the alleged rape to the Sheridan Police Department.
LITTLETON
Residents to vote on zoning for Wal-Mart
Littleton residents are likely to vote this summer on whether to grant a zoning change for a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter on Sante Fe Drive.
The city clerk has certified 4,656 signatures on a petition. Opponents need 2,904 valid signatures to request the special election.
The City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to draft a resolution authorizing the election. They will vote on that resolution April 3, likely setting the date for the election and whether it will take place at polling sites or by mail, said city spokeswoman Kelli Narde.
The city clerk and county clerk jointly recommended June 19 as a date for the election.
The council voted 4-3 in January to allow the zoning change for the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Foes say the site is too near residential areas and would affect nearby South Platte Park.
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to reporting errors, it gave an incorrect date for the mauling death of Denver Zoo employee Ashlee Pfaff, who was killed on February 24th. Also her name was originally misspelled.
