Jeffco hopes sculpture can solve murder mystery

Marilyn Robinson, Special to the Rocky

Published July 14, 2007 at midnight

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Jefferson County authorities are hoping a forensic sculpture will help solve a 30-year-old murder mystery.

The sculpture, by forensic artist Daniel Marion, depicts a young man found murdered Feb. 13, 1977, in the Morrison area.

Hikers found the body in a sleeping bag 100 feet over an embankment on U.S. 285 about one-quarter mile south of Colorado 8, which is near Tiny Town. He apparently had been dead for 30 to 60 days. An autopsy showed he died from blows to the head, said Triena Harper, chief deputy coroner.

For three decades now, he has remained unidentified and his case unsolved.

There are few clues.

The sleeping bag was mummy style, possibly military. "It definitely had military markings, but it could have been bought at a surplus store," Harper said.

The victim is described as Caucasian with possibly Hispanic or Asian heritage, 20 to 24 years old, 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 8, weighing 125 to 145 pounds, with dark brown or black hair about 5 inches long.

Adding to the mystery is a report that in mid-December 1976 a man came to the door of a motel in Tiny Town and asked to use the phone so he could call to get a ride to Littleton.

The motel worker noticed he had cuts on his face and let him use the phone but the man didn't reach anyone. He told the motel worker that he'd had a fight with his brother and his brother told him to get out of the car and took off.

The man was wearing only a shirt and pants and it was cold so the motel worker loaned him a coat. He later returned the coat, but the motel worker never saw him again.

It's a curious tale, but investigators don’t know whether it's connected to the man's death. "We don't know if it's connected at all," said Harper.

At the time, the body was sent to the Colorado State University human identification laboratory, but the man was never identified.

Officials are trying again.

"Obviously it's a cold case, but there is a lot of new technology. We would like him back with his family," said Harper.

Anybody with information is asked to contact investigator Cheryl Moore at the sheriff's office, 303-271-5625, or Harper at the coroner's office, 303-271-6482. They also can be reached by e-mail at CMoore@Jeffco.US or THarper@Jeffco.US.

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