Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The ramp to Highway 24 from I-25 southbound is closed due to a crash, according to Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) cameras.
CDOT says the closure is due to a crash. The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) also has crews on scene, according to their social media.
Details are limited at this time, but this article may be updated.
Celeste Springer
COSTILLA COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) says that human remains have been located in the Wild Horse Mesa community in Costilla County.
According to investigators, the property owner called in on Aug. 18 to report that he had found the remains.
The CBI says crews were sent out the following day and confirmed that there were remains on site with the help of K9 resources.
The remains have not yet been identified, the CBI says.
Marina Garcia
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – 13 Investigates has uncovered that the Pueblo County Coroner, Brian Cotter, is accused of hiding bodies in a secret room of his privately-owned funeral home, Davis Mortuary.
13 Investigates saw a similar, unrelated incident occur at Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose back in 2023. Owners Jon and Carie Hallford were accused of letting close to 200 bodies stack up and decompose at their funeral home. Our extensive reporting contributed to legislative change in Colorado.
You can read more on the Return to Nature case by clicking here.
This latest case is a painful reminder for families who were impacted by Return to Nature.
“It’s been a kind of trauma, you know, post-traumatic stress. It’s the kind of the kind of therapy I’ve had to go through is not anything I could have imagined. I wasn’t prepared,” said Lisa Ostly, who was personally impacted by the Return to Nature case.
In a press conference on Thursday, officials with the CBI said that some of the experts who worked the Return to Nature case are assisting with this investigation into Davis Mortuary. The CBI added that they are using some of the same “methods” to investigate this case.
But the families of the Return to Nature case know first-hand that there is a long road ahead for those seeking answers. Jon and Carie Hallford are still working their way through the court system. It’s unclear right now what the timeline will be for Brian Cotter; District Attorney Kala Beauvais said that, as of right now, no charges have been filed against Cotter.
To read our full coverage on the Brian Cotter/Davis Mortuary case, click here.
Michael Logerwell
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) said it made the discovery of multiple decomposing bodies in a secret room at Davis Mortuary during a “mandated annual inspection” on Wednesday.
But just a few years ago, this inspection might have never happened.
In May of 2024, Governor Jared Polis signed the Sunset Continue Mortuary Science Code Regulation bill (HB24-1335) into law. That law required funeral homes and crematories to be subject to inspections on a routine basis and allocated DORA inspectors more power to complete the inspection.
KRDO13 Investigates’ coverage of another funeral home, Return to Nature, contributed to the drafting of that legislation. Our coverage ultimately won a Murrow Award.
Rep. Brianna Titone (D) was a primary sponsor on HB24-1335. Titone says this week’s inspection would not have happened without the passage of that bill.
“After all of the decades of having no regulations or inspections, we are finally going to right the wrongs that have been and are still going on,” Rep. Titone said. “We were the ONLY state without regulation, and clearly this has attracted bad faith actors in the funeral industry.”
Another primary sponsor on that bill and others regarding the funeral home industry, Rep. Matt Soper (R) said the news coverage around Return to Nature led to more changes in how Colorado regulates funeral homes and crematories.
“The type of news coverage that shocks the conscience, and people were just stunned. I mean, they were mortified. And so they were coming to us as legislators, actually demanding that we do more,” Rep. Soper said that after a body brokerage scheme was uncovered, he sponsored HB20-1148, Offenses Committed Against A Deceased Human Body. That now-law made abuse of a corpse a felony; it was previously a misdemeanor.
“This is what my constituents and the general public across Colorado asked for us to do. They wanted to ensure that the government actually had the ability to make a license mean something,” Rep. Soper said.
At a CBI press conference on Thursday, a DORA official said this was the very first mandatory annual investigation of the Davis Mortuary. KRDO13 Investigates asked DORA how many times Davis Mortuary had been inspected in the past 15 years. At this time, it isn’t clear how many times they’ve been inspected.
Also revealed at the press conference, none of the employees at the Davis Mortuary were licensed to practice as a funeral director, a mortuary science practitioner, an embalmer, a cremationist, or a natural reductionist. HB24-173, which is now law, requires a license, but not until 2027.
To read all of our reports on the Davis Mortuary case, click here.
Rob Namnoum
A defensive battle between Falcon and Rampart on Thursday night at District 20 Stadium. Falcon would edge Rampart 7-6.
Bradley Davis
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – This morning, KRDO13’s Bradley Davis is learning the intricacies of the shake-making business with a vendor on the opening day of the Colorado State Fair.
Pueblo County business owner Andrew Diaz takes us behind the counter of his “Shiver and Shake” mobile operation as he takes on the Colorado State Fair for the first time.
I feel like I have my food truck here just so I can get in to try the other food trucks,” Diaz said. “I’ve seen all kinds of deep-fried foods. Some mac and cheese looks really good, so “I’m excited to try it all. It’s going to be a great weekend. I’ll put on a few pounds, but it’s all fun for the state fair. No calories count at the state fair. That’s what I’ve been told.”
Opening day at the state fair starts at 11 a.m. The KRDO13 team will be live from the fairgrounds to bring you all of the fun.
Celeste Springer
DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) — Governor Jared Polis has declared a disaster emergency to support response efforts in the fallout of the Davis Mortuary case in Pueblo, according to a press release.
“The declaration also encourages Pueblo County to seek and other counties to provide support for the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office operations and the ongoing mitigation and investigation of Davis Mortuary,” read the press release.
This week, investigators descended on Davis Mortuary following what was supposed to be a routine inspection. The mortuary is owned by Brian Cotter, who is also the Pueblo County Coroner.
According to Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) documents, inspectors noted a foul smell inside the mortuary. Later, they say they found a door hidden by a cardboard display. When they went to move the display, Cotter reportedly asked them not to go inside. Inspectors didn’t listen to his request, instead finding bodies in various states of decay, according to documents.
Cotter reportedly told investigators that some of the bodies had been in the room for roughly 15 years.
READ MORE: Pueblo County Coroner accused of hiding bodies in secret room at his privately-owned funeral home
On Friday, Governor Jared Polis called for Cotter’s resignation as county coroner.
“I’m sickened for the families of the loved ones who are impacted by this unacceptable misconduct. It is clear public trust has been lost and Mr. Cotter must resign as the Pueblo County Coroner immediately. He should be investigated and if warranted, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No one should ever have to wonder if their loved one is being taken care of with dignity and respect after they’ve passed, and Mr. Cotter must be held to account for his actions,” said Governor Jared Polis in a release.
To read all of our reporting on this case, click here.
Celeste Springer
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — In a press conference Friday, the Pueblo County Sheriff said that no single public official, not even the governor, can remove Colorado coroners from office.
It means that there is a waiting game to see if Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter will resign. Governor Polis called for his resignation on Friday morning.
While a recall election could be possible, it would take quite some time for the issue to head to voters, if it were enacted.
This week, investigators descended on Davis Mortuary following what was supposed to be a routine inspection. The mortuary is privately owned by Cotter.
According to Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) documents, inspectors noted a foul smell inside the mortuary. Later, they say they found a door hidden by a cardboard display. When they went to move the display, Cotter reportedly asked them not to go inside. Inspectors didn’t listen to his request, instead finding bodies in various states of decay, according to documents.
Cotter reportedly told investigators that some of the bodies had been in the room for roughly 15 years. On Friday, the CBI said that due to the state of some of the remains, some will require DNA analysis.
READ MORE: Pueblo County Coroner accused of hiding bodies in secret room at his privately-owned funeral home
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said that the El Paso and Fremont County coroner’s offices will take over the day-to-day operations in Pueblo County.
A victim information form has been set up by the CBI. If you entrusted a loved one to Davis Mortuary, you can click here.
The district attorney’s office stressed that this process will be slow. They will not bring charges until the investigation is complete.
“It’s a frustratingly long process, but it’s necessary,” said District Attorney Kala Beauvais. “We only have one chance at prosecution, and we have to do it right.”
Scott Harrison
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — As the mid-1700s nursery rhyme explains: Simple Simon met a pieman, going to the fair.
But Simon didn’t have to contend with driving, parking, or traffic congestion — and Colorado State Fair (CSF) attendees don’t have to, either, if they take advantage of the free shuttle service.
Drivers going to the fair will pay $15 to park on CSF-managed lots, and private property owners around the fairgrounds likely will pay even more.
Officials stated that the city’s transit office has collaborated with the CSF to offer a shuttle service for the past ten years, and has been free of cost for the past five years.
This year, a temporary, fair-themed bus stop has been set up outside the downtown parking garage near the police station, featuring an awning for shade, as well as bleacher seating and portable restrooms for added comfort.
For the first time — primarily for out-of-town fairgoers — the shuttle will include a brief historical tour along Union Avenue.
“We’ve previously not been allowed to have buses on Union Avenue,” said Chuck Perez, the city’s transit supervisor. “So, this year, going down Union is a big deal for us. It’s going to be great for the out-of-town visitors to see Union. We’ll also use Orman Avenue, which has some history in Pueblo. The Orman Mansion, for example.”
The shuttle ride from downtown will take approximately 15 minutes, and buses will run between downtown and Gate 5 on the Prairie Avenue side of the fairgrounds every 30 minutes.
Bart Bedsole
More than a dozen health code violations landed a popular Briargate restaurant at the bottom of the health inspection score list last week.
The inspector found a total of 14 violations at the Good Company Bar at North Union and Briargate Blvd.
Among the health inspector’s findings:
There was a buildup of carbon on the oven
Refried beans, cooked pasta, and chicken wings were not at the proper temperature
There were flies throughout the establishment
The floors and walls of the kitchen were visibly soiled, with a heavy buildup of grease
(Click here for the full report. Note that some of the sections include more than 1 violation.)
When KRDO13 stopped by earlier this week, the owner was out, but over the phone, he claimed the restaurant scored a 92 out of 100.
The health department later confirmed to KRDO13 that the violations added up to 92 points lost on the risk index scale, and it was not a score of 92 out of 100.
When it comes to restaurant inspections, losing 0-49 points is passing, losing 50-109 points requires a re-inspection, and losing 110 points or more means a temporary closure.
Regardless, the owner told KRDO13 he didn’t think the violations were that bad.
Good Company has yet to be re-inspected.
OTHER FAILING SCORES
Marriott Colorado Springs – 5580 Tech Center Dr – 10 violations – (also failed August 5)
Mariscos Altamar 2 – 675 S Circle Dr – 8 violations
Lucky Dragon Restaurant – 402 W Fillmore St – 6 violations
Dat’s Italian – 2514 W Colorado Ave – 5 violations
HIGH SCORES
Pizza Hut – 4331 Centennial Blvd
Del Taco – 1645 Space Center Dr
Taco Bell – 502 Garden of the Gods Rd
Taco Bell – 3029 W Colorado Ave
Starving – 720 Manitou Ave
Carl’s Jr. – 425 Garden of the Gods Rd
Panaderia Norma – 2367 N Academy Blvd
Tacos El Amigo 3 – 8005 Fountain Mesa
Detour Lounge – 4080 Clear View Frontage Rd
Trails End Taproom – 2925 W Colorado Ave
Dairy Queen – 315 W Fillmore St
Coati Upstairs – 514 S Tejon St
Rain Sushi – 750 Citadel Dr
Mother Muff’s – 2432 W Colorado Ave
Blue Moose Tavern – 10530 Ute Pass Ave
The Blue Moose Tavern is located in the heart of Green Mountain Falls next to the pond, and remains the longstanding gathering place for those who live in the area.
“People come in all the time saying, ‘I was here 40 years ago and this was over there and that was over here,’” says owner Cat Guidry, who bought the establishment seven years ago.
Guidry points out that the food is pretty memorable, too.
“We have been voted best pizza in the area for 7 or 8 years in a row. I’ve kind of lost count now,” she says.
She credits the high score to her kitchen manager’s many years of experience in the industry, and her health inspector, whom she considers a partner in helping to provide guidance on proper food safety.
Guidry says that although the Blue Moose Tavern has the feel of a hangout for locals, visitors are very welcome and appreciated.
Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup awards to know the kitchen is clean.
For a complete list of all recent inspections, click here.
