Tim Masters was released from prison today following another hearing. His murder conviction has been vacated, which is great news for him. Especially since the DNA evidence does not link him to the murder. It does point to an ex-boyfriend of Peggy Hettrick, who she saw at the bar, The Prime Minister, the night she was brutally murdered. The evidenced (if you want to call it that) that convicted Tim Masters was flimsy, shoddy even – made to fit the crime. And now it appears that the police completely mishandled this investigation, ignoring other possible suspects, including an eye doctor, Dr. Richard Hammond, who had ties to two of the Country Prosecutors. Hopefully this will be looked into, and not just a cursory look, a REAL look. I want justice, justice for all victims and their families, justice for the community and justice for those wrongfully convicted. There is no justice in a conviction if it is not the right person. Especially if it is just to get a conviction.
Peggy Hettrick Tim Masters at 15
Peggy Hettrick murder case timeline
Revisiting a Conviction (a very good article on the case)
Sketchy evidence raises doubt (has lots of links to documents and such, a good read)
Free Tim Masters
Lawyer: Other Suspect In Hettrick Murder Ignored
Man Convicted In Woman’s Slaying Claims Doctor Responsible
Colorado Hearings Re-examine ’87 Murder Case
Ex-officer: Surgeon “highly suspicious”
Potential murder suspect, DA team had ties
DNA points to new killer in ‘99 case
Police split over conviction in Colorado slaying
New DNA Evidence Means New Trial For Tim Masters
Murder conviction thrown out; Masters goes free
New DNA Evidence Prompts Colorado Judge to Release Man Convicted of Murder
Release likely today as missteps surface
Field where Peggy’s body was found (lower right)
Movies/Documentaries
Cold Case Files #12: Murder Illustrated/ Blood Relations DVD (this will need to be updated now)
[...] Here’s another interesting post I read today by mylifeofcrime [...]
By: Blood Ties » Peggy Hettrick murder 2/11/87 *Tim Masters FREED today; conviction … on January 22, 2008
at 6:35 pm
I agree. IT seems to me they ‘railroaded’ this young man at the time. He was a “weird” 15 y.o. They wanted to shut the case and they did. However, this man’s life has forever been changed and not for the better. And, the real killer simply walked away. Reminds much of my mom’s case. Not only should they look into how this was handled many years ago, but bring forth the punishment fitting those crimes. What has the real killer been doing all of these years? I really can not fathom how people murder, rape and maime and simply walk away…I guess if I understood it, I would be a different person.
Great job on the blog, by the way!! Keep it up.
By: Karrie on January 23, 2008
at 8:27 am
Karrie,
I’m sorry to hear about your mother.. I hope one day you will know the truth..
By: Lavonna on January 28, 2008
at 3:21 pm
Thanks Lavonna, the truth seems so elusive sometimes
By: Karrie on January 29, 2008
at 8:36 am
Karrie,
Keep faith that the truth will one day be found out..
By: Lavonna on January 29, 2008
at 10:53 am
I went to high school with Peggy in Libya. She was my best friend in 1966 and 67. I just found out tonight on a tv program that she was murdered on my birthday in 1987. She was a wonderful girl – I lost touch with her when we were smuggled out of Libya during the 6 day Arab-Israeli war. I am so sorry for her friends and family’s loss.
What the police did to Tim Masters was par for the course in this country. If you think we have a “justice” system, you are mistaken. I understand that they released him the end of January and by mid February, the courts were cranking up to see if they should try him for the murder again.
By: Marni Moldoff on November 30, 2008
at 12:33 am
Well, I watched a show called 48 hours hard evidence with this case, so I thought to look it up on Google.
It’s a disgrace, disgusting, Unaceptable how they never looked at the Eye docter, when he was convicted of abductings of woman, Video taped woman in the bathroom, and doing all sorts of things. He had 78 Victems from the video tapes, yet they didn’t even look at the video tapes. They didnt even watch them! What if Ms. Peggy Hettrick was in one of those tapes? Those fools who call themselves the police destroyed the video tapes, so how do we know if we have the wrong person? Person(s)? “The judge who convicted Masters didn’t see the scrawny 15 year old who couldn’t do the crime” Does that mean that they fitted Master’s Violent and disgusting drawlings of death to woman to be evidence, when even me as a Twelve year old, Classmates do that all the time! It’s called “Trying to get attention”. This case is unjust, and even a Little twelve year old like me can see that. C’mon, Police, your losing your edge!
By: Hannah Ellis on July 26, 2009
at 5:46 am
I just watched an episode of 48 Hours on my DVR this week concerning this case. The taped episode ended before they disclosed the findings…so after writing down names and Googling, I wound up here. I am so glad that Mr. Masters was found innocent of these charges. It is unfathomable to me, to be convicted AND imprisoned for a crime that you DID NOT commit! My heart goes out to the Hettrick family and also to Mr. Mathers. I hope he is able to put his life back together. This just goes to show you the arrogance of the chief investigator to have all this other evidence of possible suspects, to overlook it, and deny that ANYONE else could have done it…and the ineptitude of our judicial system.
By: Eric Chenault on July 31, 2009
at 8:12 am
After watching the 48 hours program last night on Peggy Hettrick and Tim Masters I wondered if the scenerio went something like this: Peggy leaves bar and accepts ride from ex-boyfriend and his date. An arguement ensues and the date stabs Peggy from the back seat. The pair carry her body to the field. Depending on the new girlfriends background either she does the cutting or they leave the body and Dr. Hammond see’s the body from his home and goes out in the dark and cuts her. I hope that the guilty parties are found out and prosecuted. As this will give her family and all others closure. Forgive me for playing Junior detective, but it just seems possible.
By: julia jones on December 28, 2009
at 3:39 pm