A college student is found murdered by the South Platte River In the winter of 1985, the life of 20-year-old Denise Davenport, a student at the University of Northern Colorado, was tragically cut short. A junior and a member of a sorority, she was last seen on the evening of February 24, 1985, leaving her job at the Greeley Mall. She was driving her boyfriend's blue Mazda RX-7 and was expected at a sorority event that evening, but she never arrived. Her boyfriend reported her and his car missing.
A few days later, the vehicle was discovered abandoned in a dormitory parking lot on the university's campus.
For nearly two months, Denise's whereabouts remained a mystery, leaving her family and friends in a state of agonizing uncertainty. The search came to a devastating end on April 20, 1985, when a group of kayakers discovered her remains in the South Platte River, near Greeley. The discovery confirmed the worst fears of those who knew her, and her death was officially ruled a homicide, with investigators convinced that foul play was involved.
The investigation into Denise's murder has spanned decades, yet it remains an unsolved cold case. Over the years, law enforcement officials have interviewed more than a hundred people, including friends, family, and acquaintances, and have looked into numerous tips. Despite their efforts, little physical evidence has been uncovered, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with her death. Investigators initially considered the possibility that her death was related to a past drug-related arrest, but this lead, like others, did not result in a definitive suspect. Another individual with a violent criminal history was publicly named as a prime suspect by the Larimer County Sheriff, but the Weld County Sheriff's Office, the primary agency on the case, stated they had no information to support this claim.
The case of Denise Davenport's unsolved murder continues to be a source of pain for her loved ones and a lingering puzzle for law enforcement. Decades after her death, investigators still seek information from the public, hoping that someone will come forward with the key piece of evidence that will finally bring her killer to justice and provide closure for her family.
