Feb.11, 1987 – The murdered and sexually mutilated body of Peggy Hettrick was discovered in a field in south Fort Collins. The lead detectives assigned to the case were Jack Taylor and Sheri Wagner. Detective Broderick worked on the initial stages of the case.
Feb. 12, 1987 – Tim Masters, 15, was interviewed for 6 hours by Fort Collins police detectives. The police considered Masters a prime suspect early in the investigation because he admitted that he walked to within 5 feet of Ms. Hettrick’s corpse on his way to school, he did not report what he saw to anyone and he made several explicit drawings of mutilated female bodies.
June 15, 1987 – Det. Broderick was promoted to Sergeant and shortly thereafter was reassigned to the patrol division.
Late 1987- The FBI gave Fort Collins Police suggestions and advice as to certain actions that Tim Masters would take on or about the first anniversary of the homicide if he had killed Ms. Hettrick.
Feb. 11, 1988 – Fort Collins police conducted a first anniversary surveillance of Tim Masters with negative results.
June, 1991 – Linda Wheeler-Holloway was assigned as the lead investigator on the Hettrick homicide case.
February, 1992 – Fort Collins Police Department developed an electronic database to store police reports; part of the Hettrick investigation was stored in this database.
July 22, 1992 – Police sought and received an arrest warrant for Mr. Masters. Det. Linda Wheeler-Holloway and Sergeant Broderick interviewed Mr. Masters. Det. Wheeler-Holloway decided not to arrest Masters at that time.
Nov. 30, 1995 – Det. Wheeler-Holloway retired from the Fort Collins Police Department and retained some files including original documents from the Hettrick investigation.
Nov. 3, 1997 – Sgt. James Broderick was promoted to Lieutenant.
Aug. 6, 1998 – Tim Masters was charged with the murder of Peggy Hettrick. Chief Deputy District Attorney Terry Gilmore and Deputy District Attorney Jolene Blair prosecuted the case. Masters was defended by Erik Fischer and Nathan Chambers.
March 26, 1999 – Masters was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Feb.15, 2001 – The Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court conviction.
Oct.15, 2002 – The Colorado Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals decision.
May 5, 2003 – Tim Masters filed a Motion for Post-Conviction relief. Maria Liu and David Wymore were appointed to represent Mr. Masters.
April 20, 2007 – The 17th Judicial District Attorney was appointed by the court as special prosecutor.
Dec.18, 2007 - Defense Counsel filed a Motion for Special Prosecutor to Investigate Possible Criminal Activity by the Fort Collins Police Department and a Motion for Special Prosecutor to Investigate Perjury at the Trial of Tim Masters by Fort Collins Police Lt. James Broderick.
Jan. 4, 2008 – Larry Abrahamson, the Eighth Judicial District Attorney, filed a Motion for Order Appointing Special Prosecutor which was granted the same day.
Jan. 22, 2008 – Special prosecutors filed a Motion to Vacate Judgment of Conviction and Sentence for Tim Masters. The motion was subsequently granted.
June 2010 -- The city of Fort Collins settled Tim Masters' civil rights lawsuit against the city for $5.9 million.
February 2010 -- Larimer County settls their part of the lawsuit for $4.1 million.
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