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Tim Masters Files: Solving the Mystery of Peggy Hettrick’s Life
Her death was Fort Collins’ longest unsolved murder—but Hettrick’s 37 years of life is just as much of a mystery
ENLARGE
Almost 21 years ago, Peggy Lee Hettrick's lifeless body was found face-up and exposed in a Fort Collins field, her fiery red fanned out in the dirt around her and her blue eyes open to the sky. Despite a distinctive trail of blood across the cold ground near Landings Drive, her torso was pale, almost porcelain, and free of obvious signs of blood. Only one of her wounds was visible in the position in which she was found: her left nipple was cut cleanly off.
The Hettrick murder became Fort Collins' coldest case, taking 12 years to close from the time her body was found to the time a judge sentenced Timothy Masters to life in prison.
Now, with new legal proceedings underway that are attempting to show that Masters’ trial was tainted by prosecutorial misconduct and inadequate defense, it threatens to become Fort Collins’ most infamous case as well.
Lost in the blizzard of motions, courtroom outbursts and allegations of corruption, however, is the murder victim herself; rarely is there a mention of Hettrick's life before Feb. 10, 1987, of who she was, what she had experienced in her almost 38 years and what her future might have held had someone not taken it from her.
What we do know about Hettrick and her history is sparse and vague.
We know that she was wearing red boots when she was murdered and that earlier that day she took her work break at a food court eatery called Banana's. We don't, on the other hand, know about her childhood or her years living on an air base on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.
Efforts to contact family members or roommates have not been successful, and while the Internet would likely reveal details about most people today, when searching for information on someone who died in 1987, the information superhighway comes to a screeching halt. Newspaper articles from the time of her death reveal only minor details: she was unmarried and dated around; she moved to Northern Colorado in the 1970s from Arizona; she was the accessories manager at The Fashion Bar, a clothing store in The Square that was once a shopping mainstay for the women of Fort Collins.
She “always had a smile” and she “was a real nice gal,” according to her Fashion Bar boss Sandy Atchison in the Coloradoan a few days after the murder.
Today, Atchison is a Fort Collins Realtor. She speaks fondly of Hettrick, though it's difficult for her to remember much. Atchison says that the longtime Fashion Bar employee was liked by all, and she was friendly and fun.
“She was really artistic and creative and really just a free spirit,” Atchison said “She was fearless—that's why she was out walking at night.”
Atchison said that Hettrick walked a lot, to and from work and out at night to places like the Prime Minister.
As far as Hettrick's past, Atchison recalls pieces here and there.
“When you're the boss, of course you get to know your employees but you don't get the whole picture,” she said.
The best source for finding details about Hettrick’s history has been her obituary, which announced services on Feb. 17.
According to the obituary, Hettrick was born in Lovell, Wyo., on March 1, 1949. She graduated from high school in 1967 at Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya. She later went to Arizona State University. She came to Loveland in the mid-1970s and moved to Fort Collins in 1978. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Loveland, where her funeral was held. According to Father John Grabrian, who was the pastor at St. John’s when Hettrick died but is now at Christ on the Mountain Church in Lakewood, Hettrick's grandmother and uncle were longtime members of the church but he had only met Hettrick a few times.
At the time of her death, according to the obituary, her father and brother were in Florida and her grandmother was living in Loveland. Her mother had passed away prior to Hettrick’s death.
These pieces of Hettrick's life by no means create a finished portrait—in fact, they leave more questions than answers. For now, it seems, in the eyes of the public, her life remains as unsettled as her death.
The Hettrick murder became Fort Collins' coldest case, taking 12 years to close from the time her body was found to the time a judge sentenced Timothy Masters to life in prison.
Now, with new legal proceedings underway that are attempting to show that Masters’ trial was tainted by prosecutorial misconduct and inadequate defense, it threatens to become Fort Collins’ most infamous case as well.
Lost in the blizzard of motions, courtroom outbursts and allegations of corruption, however, is the murder victim herself; rarely is there a mention of Hettrick's life before Feb. 10, 1987, of who she was, what she had experienced in her almost 38 years and what her future might have held had someone not taken it from her.
What we do know about Hettrick and her history is sparse and vague.
We know that she was wearing red boots when she was murdered and that earlier that day she took her work break at a food court eatery called Banana's. We don't, on the other hand, know about her childhood or her years living on an air base on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.
Efforts to contact family members or roommates have not been successful, and while the Internet would likely reveal details about most people today, when searching for information on someone who died in 1987, the information superhighway comes to a screeching halt. Newspaper articles from the time of her death reveal only minor details: she was unmarried and dated around; she moved to Northern Colorado in the 1970s from Arizona; she was the accessories manager at The Fashion Bar, a clothing store in The Square that was once a shopping mainstay for the women of Fort Collins.
She “always had a smile” and she “was a real nice gal,” according to her Fashion Bar boss Sandy Atchison in the Coloradoan a few days after the murder.
Today, Atchison is a Fort Collins Realtor. She speaks fondly of Hettrick, though it's difficult for her to remember much. Atchison says that the longtime Fashion Bar employee was liked by all, and she was friendly and fun.
“She was really artistic and creative and really just a free spirit,” Atchison said “She was fearless—that's why she was out walking at night.”
Atchison said that Hettrick walked a lot, to and from work and out at night to places like the Prime Minister.
As far as Hettrick's past, Atchison recalls pieces here and there.
“When you're the boss, of course you get to know your employees but you don't get the whole picture,” she said.
The best source for finding details about Hettrick’s history has been her obituary, which announced services on Feb. 17.
According to the obituary, Hettrick was born in Lovell, Wyo., on March 1, 1949. She graduated from high school in 1967 at Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya. She later went to Arizona State University. She came to Loveland in the mid-1970s and moved to Fort Collins in 1978. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Loveland, where her funeral was held. According to Father John Grabrian, who was the pastor at St. John’s when Hettrick died but is now at Christ on the Mountain Church in Lakewood, Hettrick's grandmother and uncle were longtime members of the church but he had only met Hettrick a few times.
At the time of her death, according to the obituary, her father and brother were in Florida and her grandmother was living in Loveland. Her mother had passed away prior to Hettrick’s death.
These pieces of Hettrick's life by no means create a finished portrait—in fact, they leave more questions than answers. For now, it seems, in the eyes of the public, her life remains as unsettled as her death.
Information needed
Fort Collins Now is looking for information on the life of Peggy Hettrick. If you can help us create a better and fuller picture of Hettrick or help us find those who knew her well, please email acoberly@fortcollinsnow.com or call 970-493-1011, ext. 11289. Any information would be much appreciated.
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