CO CO - Margaret 'Margo' Hillman, 14, Lyons, 24 Sept 1983

[margarita25]

The forest service workers had by chance come across the disturbed grave the following summer.

On the same day that the newspaper reported the discovery of the secret mountain grave, Wednesday, July 18, 1984, a Coloradan was running for the highest office in the country.

Democrat Gary Hart was soon to give what Denver Post reporter Patrick Yack was calling the “biggest speech of his political life.” He was to speak that night at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.

Hart was running for president. Hart would fall short of the Democratic nomination in 1984. Scandal ruined better chances in the 1988 presidential campaign.

But at the time, The Denver Post pulled out all stops to cover the political story. The discovery of bones north of Boulder was relegated to back pages of the newspaper.

The article about the hidden grave made it clear that the most plausible explanation was that the bones they had found were Margo’s remains."

http://blogs.denverpost.com/coldcases/2014/09/06/boulder-2/9267/2/

 

[margarita25]

"But in this case, a sheriff’s investigator told then Denver Post reporter Wynne Bilby that “the person in all probability did not die accidentally.”

When the buried remains were discovered 1 1/2 miles from where the barn party had taken place the local news media was focused on another dominating news story.

Boulder detective Gerry Leverentz told Bilby at the time that if the remains were those of the missing girl, a whole new investigation, with an entirely different emphasis would begin.

“We’ll have to look at it in a totally different light because we have a victim now,” Leverentz told the Post reporter.

It was a murder investigation.

Indeed, authorities were able to confirm that the bones buried in the foothills were Margaret’s remains.

The Boulder County coroner’s office categorized the cause of death as homicide."

http://blogs.denverpost.com/coldcases/2014/09/06/boulder-2/9267/3/

 

[margarita25]

"In Margo’s case, those facts were not released in 1984. It’s possible the coroner had discovered punctures in clothing suggesting gunshots or knife marks through broken or chipped bones.

The investigation that followed would have been aimed once again at those who had access to the child at the fairly remote ranch party."

http://blogs.denverpost.com/coldcases/2014/09/06/boulder-2/9267/3/

 

[margarita25]

"It wouldn’t be until recent years that more information was released about the circumstances pointing to a murder.

At the time a skeleton was discovered, a pile of her clothes were found piled nearby. The property, 1 1/2 miles north of the barn, was also on the Heil Ranch property."

Snip

"Denver Post staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or twitter.com/kmitchelldp."


http://blogs.denverpost.com/coldcases/2014/09/06/boulder-2/9267/4/

 

[ksprincess]

I've never heard of Christine or Margo although I grew up in Loveland and then later in Littleton. It sounds to me like it's very possible both girls were killed by the same person. A serial killer? That was a pretty small and much less populated area at the time and since it's likely Margo was killed by someone at that party it must have been someone local.

Any other similar murders or missing girls in that area and time frame?

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[ksprincess]

Thank you Margarita25 for posting Kirk Mitchell's article!

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[ksprincess]

Thank you Margarita25 for posting Kirk Mitchell's article!

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Ok can't edit but thanks for all the articles not just that one.

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[margarita25]

Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) COLD CASE FILES
https://apps.colorado.gov/apps/coldcase/index.html

 

[margarita25]

Thank you Margarita25 for posting Kirk Mitchell's article!

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Yes a big shout out to Kirk Mitchell indeed.

 

[margarita25]

I'm recognizing some case players from JBR's case.

 

[margarita25]

I would really, really like to see a media blitz on Margaret's cold case. If anyone wants to help with this by reaching out to outlets, I would be eternally grateful.

 

[margarita25]

"Angela Wilds, 38 yoa
June 4th, 2006
Case #06-3079
Detective Brian Zierlein


The badly decomposed naked body of an unidentified female was found by a couple of hikers near a shallow grave southwest of Lyons in the South St.Vrain Canyon. Extensive investigation led to the identification of the body as that of Angela Wilds, a transient woman who had most recently lived in Longmont. Investigators contacted nearly 100 associate and acquaintances in their attempts to identify a motive and killer. The case remains open."

http://www.westword.com/news/harold...icide-cases-that-havent-heated-up-yet-5872098

 

[margarita25]

Ugh

"Tracy Neef, 7 yoa
March 16th, 1984
Case #S84-3781

Detective Carolyn Roberts (jointly investigated with the Thornton Police Department; they maintain custody of the case file)

The body of Tracy Neef, 7 years of age, was found dumped at a roadside pullout above Barker Reservoir in Boulder Canyon. She had been abducted earlier that day on her way to Bertha Heid Elementary School in Thornton. Her death was caused by asphyxia and exposure; it was suspected that she had been sexually abused as well.

The case was jointly investigated by Thornton PD and the Sheriff's Office; Thornton PD has custody of the case files. A likely suspect was identified, however, there is insufficient evidence for an arrest warrant at present."

http://www.westword.com/news/harold...icide-cases-that-havent-heated-up-yet-5872098

*starting a thread for Tracy, will update this post with link.

 

[margarita25]

:bump:

 

[margarita25]

Heil Velley Ranch making the news again:

Boulder County employee dies from fall at Heil Valley Ranch
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/05/11/boulder-county-employee-dies-heil-valley-ranch-fall/

*****

County Employee Dies From Fall At Open Space Area
http://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/05/11/county-employee-dies-from-fall-at-open-space-area/

****

Boulder County employee dies following fall at Heil Valley Ranch
http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-...r-county-employee-dies-following-fall-at-heil

"The Boulder County Coroner's Office will make the official ruling on the cause and manner of death."

 

[margarita25]

Bump

 

[margarita25]

Bumping for Margo in 2019.

 

[margarita25]

Colorado Cold Case Files - Case Detail: Margaret Hillman

Case Detail Picture 1

Margaret Henriette Hillman
Case Details
Case Type: Homicide
Height: 5' 2"
Case Status: OPEN
Weight: 110 lbs
Aliases: Margo
Identifying Marks: Small scar left wrist and on the crown of the head from front to back
Incident Date: 09/24/1983
Occupation:
Agency: Boulder County Sheriff's Office
City: Boulder
Date of of Birth: 05/05/1969
County: Boulder
Date of Death: 09/24/1983
Agency Case #: 83-12413
Age: 14
Judicial District: 20th Judicial District
Gender: Female
Year Solved:
Race: Caucasian
NaMus Case #: Unknown
Eyes: Hazel
NCMEC Case #: Unknown
Hair: Brown

About this Case:
On September 24, 1983, Margaret Hillman was at a large party held in a barn on the Heil Ranch in Greer Canyon. She was last seen alive at 11:30 P.M. and was supposed to catch a ride home with three cousins. When questioned the next day, the three cousins reported they could not find Hillman when they were ready to leave at about 1:30 A.M. on September 25. On July 17, 1984, a skeletonized body was found partially buried one and one half miles north of the dam where the party was held, still on the Heil Ranch property; clothing was piled nearby. The body and clothing were subsequently identified as those of Margaret Hillman. Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to please contact the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.If you have any information about this case, please contact:Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Boulder CO

 

[margarita25]

I’m not seeing a Charley Project, etc for Margaret?

 

[Laughing]

Margarita25, I'm not going back to find your post -- but you've mentioned that Margo may have had special needs?

Looking at her picture, JMHO, the space between her eyes looks wider than is typical. This is typically found in persons diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. FAS typically includes developmental & cognitive delays:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (for Parents)

Obviously I'm only looking at one picture, and am no expert.

At 14, Margo was unfortunately no match for the perpetrator of this crime.

So sorry that you have a tie to this murder!

JMHO