A 15-year-old's body is found in a ditch.
On a cold autumn day in 1980, the body of a 15-year-old White/Caucasian female named Stephanie Ann Bauman was discovered in a ditch near County Road 173 and US 36 in Centennial, Colorado. It was October 28th, and the grim finding would mark the beginning of a case that has remained unsolved for decades. Stephanie’s body was bruised, and she had been left in the ditch without any clothes. Her clothing was later found in a pile nearly a mile from where she was discovered. The official cause of death was determined to be hypothermia, a chilling end for a young life.
In the time leading up to her death, Stephanie had been living in a group home for troubled youths. About two weeks prior to the discovery of her body, she had run away from the home. During that time, it is believed she stayed with various acquaintances. Reports from the time indicated that she was attempting to get in touch with family members who lived out of state. Her life as a runaway put her in a vulnerable position, the tragic outcome of which became a long-standing cold case for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office.
Despite the passage of time, law enforcement has continued to seek answers in Stephanie's death. Over the years, DNA evidence has been collected, but as of late 2022, no specific suspect has been identified or arrested in connection with her case. Her murder is one of several unsolved homicides from that era in the Denver metro area, leading to speculation that a serial killer could have been responsible. Investigators have considered links to other cases, but no definitive connection has been publicly established. The case of Stephanie Ann Bauman remains an open and haunting mystery, a stark reminder of a young girl whose life was cut short and whose killer has never been brought to justice.
