From JonBenet to Balloon Boy: Colorado’s Darkest Moments

There is no doubt that Colorado is a great state. However, it does have its fair share of scandals and tragedies. From nail-biting moments on national television to the news of heartbreaking mass shootings. There have been many that have rocked the news outlets, state, and nationwide.

The Unsolved JonBenet Ramsey Murder in Boulder

The first scandal in this list occurred back in 1996 in Boulder, Colorado. Many might remember the name, JonBenet Ramsey. The six-year-old beauty pageant contestant was found dead inside her home with a bizarre ransom letter in the house after her parents called the police to report that she was missing.

Numerous allegations state that local police mishandled the crime scene, and many had their suspicions about the family; however, no one was charged. To this day, the case of JonBenet Ramsey is still unsolved.

The Balloon Boy Hoax in Fort Collins

The next biggest scandal that Colorado has seen is from right here in Northern Colorado. In 2009, a balloon that took off from Fort Collins, Colorado, made national news as Richard and Mayumi Heene claimed their 6-year-old son, Falcon, was inside the giant balloon.

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The ordeal lasted hours, and those who watched it unfold, live on television, hoped for the best. Only to find out that Falcon Heene was hiding in the attic the entire time. The Heenes were convicted of crimes related to the hoax, and this is how the phrase "Balloon Boy" came to be a national punchline.

The Aurora Movie Theater Mass Shooting

The final scandal on the list for Colorado is one of the most tragic. On July 20, 2012, James Holmes opened fire on a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. The mass shooting claimed the lives of 12 people and injured 70.

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The reason why this mass shooting became a scandal is that the shooter showed obvious signs of mental illness before the incident, and questions were raised regarding the University of Colorado and law enforcement officials in the prevention of the shooting. This Colorado mass shooting also sparked another debate on gun control laws, mental health policies, and security at public venues on a national level.