2005Nov. 14: Aaron Thompson reports to Aurora police that his daughter Aarone is a runaway.
Nov. 17: After three days of searching, police suspend efforts and obtain a search warrant for the Thompson home. The remaining seven children are removed from the house. Authorities say Aarone was likely killed and name Thompson and his common-law wife, Shelley Lowe (spelled Shely in the indictment), as “persons of interest.”
Nov. 21: Police quote the children as saying they haven’t seen Aarone “in a while.”
Dec. 6: Court documents obtained by The Denver Post report that Lowe’s ex-boyfriend told authorities Aarone was dead and that Lowe and Thompson buried her in a field.
2006March 28: Lowe’s brother and son call The Denver Post to say that Lowe and Thompson did not kill Aarone.
May 4: Grand jury convened to hear evidence in the suspected killing of Aarone.
May 13: Lowe, 33, dies of heart failure.
2007May 16: Grand jury issues indictments, and Thompson is arrested.
May 17: The 60 charges Thompson faces: child abuse resulting in death (2); other child abuse (18); conspiracy charges (11); accessory charges (2); providing false information (1); concealing death (1); abuse of a corpse (1); contributing to the delinquency of a minor (7); and assault (17).
Judge William Sylvester seals the case file and issues a gag order on the case.
June 22: Arapahoe District Judge Mark Hannen rules that “facts” of indictment and victims’ names will remain secret after The Denver Post challenges the court’s order to seal documents.
Nov. 1: The Denver Post and The Associated Press file a lawsuit asking the Colorado Supreme Court to unseal the indictment.
2008April 7: The state Supreme Court rules the entire indictment should be released.
April 21: Attorney general’s office asks Supreme Court for rehearing on ruling, saying releasing the documents might not allow Thompson a fair trial.
April 28: Supreme Court denies rehearing.
April 30: Indictment released to public.
Compiled by Denver Post staff librarian Barry Osborne
