On the evening of June 17, 1980, 41-year-old Simon Amaro was having drinks at Richie's Bar, located near West 26th Avenue and Federal Boulevard in Denver, Colorado. Shortly after the bar closed, the male victim left the establishment and was confronted by unknown individuals near his parked vehicle. During the encounter, Simon was shot and killed.
In the days following the murder, frustration grew for his 17-year-old daughter, Joann Amaro, as no arrests were made.
She believed there were witnesses who were afraid to come forward with information. In a desperate attempt to find answers, she considered confronting patrons at the bar.
Denver Police investigated the homicide and, according to Joann, they suspected three men who were also believed to be responsible for a robbery in Golden the day before her father's death. She was told that one of these men had confessed to the murder but later retracted his statement. Ultimately, authorities did not have sufficient evidence to file charges against the suspects.
The case of Simon Amaro's death remains unsolved, and no arrests have been officially made in connection with his murder. The investigation is now considered a cold case, and the Denver Police Department continues to seek information from the public regarding the events of that night.
