In the late summer of 2017, the close-knit mountain biking community of Monument, Colorado, was shaken by the tragic death of one of its own. Timothy Watkins, a 60-year-old White male, was a beloved figure in the local cycling scene, known for his passion for the outdoors and his friendly demeanor. On September 14, 2017, Watkins embarked on what was described as a daily trail ride near Mount Herman.
When he failed to return home, his wife reported him missing, sparking a search effort by concerned friends and local authorities.
The search initially yielded unsettling discoveries. Watkins' mountain bike was found, and later, one of his bike shoes was located on Mount Herman Road. The grim reality of the situation became clear on September 17, when a hiker discovered Watkins' body concealed under a pile of leaves and twigs off a popular trail. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office confirmed that he had been shot multiple times, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
As the investigation into Watkins' murder began, a separate series of menacing incidents in the same area created a climate of fear among local trail users. Reports emerged of a man threatening hikers and bikers with a hatchet. These reports led to the arrest of Daniel Nations, a 31-year-old man with a criminal history. In Nations' vehicle, authorities found a hatchet and a. 22-caliber rifle, the same caliber as the weapon used to kill Watkins. This discovery, along with witness accounts of Nations' vehicle being seen in the area during the search for Watkins, led investigators to consider him a person of interest in the murder.
Despite the circumstantial evidence, a direct link between Nations and the murder of Tim Watkins could not be definitively established. Ballistics tests on the rifle were inconclusive, as the bullet recovered from Watkins was too damaged for a conclusive match. Similarly, DNA evidence did not provide a link. While questioned about the homicide, Nations was never formally charged in connection with Watkins' death. He eventually reached a plea agreement on the menacing charges and received no jail time. The murder of Tim Watkins remains an unsolved case, leaving a void in the community and a lingering sense of unanswered questions.
