In the summer of 1976, a young woman's life was tragically cut short on the streets of Denver. Eighteen-year-old Mary DeLaughter, a white female, was in the vicinity of the White Spot Diner in the 600 block of East Colfax on the night of June 27th. She was with a friend when a car carrying several men pulled up beside them. The men demanded that DeLaughter and her friend get into their vehicle.
When they refused the men's advances, the situation escalated with horrifying speed.
The driver of the car produced a gun and fired, striking DeLaughter. Officers in a nearby parking lot heard the gunshot and discovered her body. The investigation that followed revealed that DeLaughter was a runaway from another state and had been living in various locations around the Capitol Hill area. She was also known by the names Mary Panzan and Mary DeLauther.
Despite the initial investigation and the presence of a witness, the case remains unsolved. The men in the car were never identified, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with the murder of Mary DeLaughter. Her death is now considered a cold case, a chilling reminder of a violent night that has gone without justice for decades. The Denver Police Department continues to seek information from the public that might lead to a breakthrough in the case.
