In the small community of Lamar, Colorado, the summer of 1991 was shattered by a brutal crime that claimed the lives of a beloved couple. Robert Allen 'Curley' Culberth, a 70-year-old male, and his wife, Darlene, were well-known figures in Prowers County, particularly for their involvement with the local VFW Hall where they both worked. Their lives were tragically cut short on August 1st of that year in what appeared to be a robbery gone horribly wrong.
The couple had arrived at the VFW Hall shortly after 1 p.m. to prepare for the day. Less than an hour later, a sequence of events unfolded that would leave the community in shock and a mystery that would endure for decades.
The VFW's alarm system was disabled at 1:41 p.m., and just six minutes later, the cash register was opened. When a woman arrived at the VFW at 2:10 p.m., just ten minutes after its scheduled opening time, she found the door locked. Peering through a window, she made a grim discovery. Darlene was visible, slumped behind the bar. She had been shot in the head and abdomen. Investigators would soon find Curley as well, also a victim of gun violence. The motive appeared to be robbery, with an estimated $700 to $1,100 stolen from the establishment.
In the years that followed, the double homicide of Curley and Darlene Culberth became one of Prowers County's most infamous cold cases. The initial investigation led to the questioning of several local suspects, and at one point, an arrest was made in connection with the murders. However, the individual was released shortly after, and no formal charges were ever filed. The case remained unsolved, leaving a lingering sense of injustice and unanswered questions for the Culberth family and the Lamar community.
Decades later, the case received renewed attention when it was featured on the Oxygen television series 'Cold Justice.'. The show's investigators traveled to Prowers County to re-examine the evidence and interview family members and law enforcement. This effort brought a glimmer of hope that new leads might emerge. The Prowers County Sheriff's Office indicated that the collaboration with 'Cold Justice' had made some headway and that new information had been forwarded to the District Attorney's office with the hope of finally bringing charges in the long-dormant case. Despite this renewed focus, the case officially remains unsolved, a painful reminder of a day that forever marked the community.
