VAIL, Colo.—Investigators have concluded that the man who robbed a Vail bank more than 2 1/2 years ago was Jim Blanning, who took his own life on New Year’s Eve after leaving homemade bombs around Aspen.
Police said three weeks ago that surveillance video led them to suspect Blanning was the man behind the unsolved robberies of WestStar Bank in 2005 and 2006.
Police Sgt. Craig Bettis said this week that investigators are now confident Blanning was the robber and the case is closed.
Aspen police say Blanning left four gasoline bombs around their town, triggering widespread evacuations and forcing the cancellation of many New Year’s celebrations.
Blanning was found dead a few hours later, and police said he shot himself. He was 72.
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Information from: Vail Daily,
