Henthorn Friend Wore 'Wire' For Investigation
DENVER (CBS4)- A friend of accused murderer Harold Henthorn wore a "wire" and recorded conversations with the Highlands Ranch man as part of a law enforcement scheme to see if they could catch Henthorn confessing to killing either of his wives, who both died under unusual circumstances.
The new information is part of a CBS4 special report that airs Friday at 6:30 p.m. The 30-minute program is entitled "Inside the Investigation:Harold Henthorn."
Henthorn has been charged with killing his second wife, Toni, who died in a fall at Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012.
His first wife, Lynn, died in May 1995 when the couple's Jeep fell on her during a tire change on a remote mountain road in Douglas County. Although the death was initially ruled an accident, following the 2012 death of Toni Henthorn, the Douglas County Sheriff reopened the case of Lynn Henthorn.
CBS4 has now learned through multiple sources outside of the Douglas County Sheriff's Department that as part of that reopened probe, Douglas County detectives had at least one friend of Henthorn's wear a recording device and record conversations with Harold Henthorn, hoping to either get him to confess or provide new details on the case. Sources say Harold Henthorn did not make any confession during the recorded conversations.
Ron Hanavan, a spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff, declined to comment on the CBS4 "wire" report saying that the Lynn Henthorn case is an ongoing investigation.
Harold Henthorn is scheduled to appear in federal court next week for proceedings in the federal murder case pending against him. Prosecutors will ask the Judge to allow them to let a jury know about the death of Lynn Henthorn in 1995 and the similarities between that case and the 2012 death of Toni Henthorn.
Harold Henthorn's attorney has subpoenaed numerous current and former Douglas County Sheriff's Department employees to testify next week. He has also issued subpoenas for two former Douglas County coroners as well as Henthorn's insurance agent.
Henthorn has pleaded not guilty in the death of Toni Henthorn and has maintained that she slipped and fell 140 feet to her death in Rocky Mountain National Park. He is scheduled to go on trial in September.
CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.
