BLACK HAWK, Colo. - A Colorado woman who told authorities that a bear attacked her in Golden Gate Canyon Park in September fabricated the story, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigation.
Julie Bosworth, 38, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting to authorities, a CPW press release read. Gilpin County Judge David Taylor sentenced her to 20 hours of community service.
On Sept. 19, Bosworth called 911 and told authoritiesthat a bear attacked her around 1:20 p.m. near mile marker 4 on Highway 46, according to CPW officials. She said it happened while she was out hiking with her dog and was able to walk down a trail to an ambulance to be treated.
But after an investigation of the area, including DNA testing, and a follow-up interview with the woman, CPW officials said that no bear attack occurred. DNA results showed only human and dog hairs were present in the samples, officials said.
“As an agency we investigate these to the fullest and we cannot and will not tolerate false reporting,” said CPW Northeast Region Manager Mark Leslie in a press release. “If you do this, we are going to charge you.”
A possible motive for the false report was not disclosed in the press release.
