Author: KRDO

Heather Skold

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — This Fall, members of Fort Carson’s 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, will deploy to the Middle East– all to support U.S. Central Command, according to The Mountain Post. 

Ahead of any deployment, it’s natural for the military member and their families to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, and tension; the unknowns are countless. 

Here to help: the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic.  The clinic has 22 locations nationwide, with one of them being in Colorado Springs. 

“The family takes on a whole new identity, potentially,” said Amy Moore, Cohen Clinic Director.

The clinic provides in-person therapy to individuals, couples, and children, as long as the serving member meets post-9/11 criteria. Face-to-face video therapy via CVN Telehealth is also available. 

“As a caregiver, especially, you’re trying to look strong. You’re trying to look supportive for your family member who’s deployed, who’s serving our country, and that’s so much to handle on top of your shoulders.” 

For Andrea Keits, a 28-year “spouse of the military,” she’s learned that flexibility and compromise made her marriage last. 

“I may look like I have my life together, but my sock is bunched at the bottom of my shoe.  Deployments are hard.  Families go through different things; no one’s journey is the same,” said Keits. 

She brings a lot of learned experience, now serving as the clinic’s intake coordinator.  She remembers the demands that came, not being stationed close to family as she and her husband Derrick, expanded their own nuclear family. 

The Cohen Clinic accepts TRICARE health insurance. 

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Celeste Springer

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A Silver Cliff woman is suing Brian Cotter in small claims court, according to records obtained by 13 Investigates.

The lawsuit is for $3,105, plus court costs. The woman says she is suing because she prepaid for cremation services and wants her money back.

Deborah ‘Debby’ Paladay tells 13 Investigates her family had trusted Davis Mortuary for 48 years.

Paladay explained that they used the Cotters’ services for her mother, father, brother, previous husbands, and daughter. She described all of her family members as the most outstanding people, while noting that they deserve better.

“We had trusted Davis Mortuary for so long. I also just went ahead and did pre-paid cremation,” explained Debby Paladay.

Paladay said that she wants her money back, so the financial burden doesn’t fall on her kids.

“I’ve got to get that money back or my kids are going to be stuck with that expense whenever I go,” shared Paladay. “When this all happened, I just felt like that trust was so violated. And, I wanted to get my 3,000 back because I’m retired. I don’t have a ton of money.”

She’s encouraging others to fight for their money back.

“Things like this shouldn’t have ever happened. And because they did, people got to step up and stand up for themselves,” stated Paladay.

We also reached out to the Division of Insurance (DOI) to see what they’d recommend for other families who may be in a similar situation.

DOI has initiated an inquiry that will assess potential impacts to pre-need funeral contracts that may be related to the Davis Mortuary, and we are encouraging Coloradans to submit requests for assistance related to pre-need funeral contracts through a form on our website: https://doi.colorado.gov/information-regarding-the-davis-mortuary

At this time, DOI’s investigation is ongoing, and we are not able to share more information as ongoing investigations are confidential.

-A Division of Insurance spokesperson

Cotter is at the center of a Pueblo County controversy and investigation. He was the Pueblo County coroner, but also owned his own funeral home business.

Back in August, inspectors alleged that they noted a smell of decomposition in his funeral home, Davis Mortuary. They claimed that there was a door hidden behind a display, and when they removed it, they allegedly found remains in various states of decomposition.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) said that there were 24 bodies found, and it’s believed that they were all brought to the funeral home between 2010 and 2012. As of the last update from the CBI in early October, six of the bodies have been identified.

As of this publication, no criminal charges have been filed against Brian Cotter, or funeral home co-owner Chris Cotter. However, Brian Cotter did step down from his position as county coroner.

The CBI says that they want to identify all of the bodies before the district attorney’s office evaluates potential charges.

“As we’ve indicated from the very beginning, this is a slow and tedious process,” said District Attorney Kala Beauvais on Oct. 1. “I am determined to get this case right. The filing of charges will be done right the first time.”

To read all of our updates on the Davis Mortuary case, click here.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released an update on K9 Roam, the police dog that was stabbed during an incident with a suspect this week.

K9 Roam was seriously injured, with wounds to his neck, abdomen, and leg. Due to the severity, emergency veterinarians decided that amputating one of his back legs would be necessary.

On Friday, CSPD announced that Roam is working on sitting up and taking steps.

“First and foremost, we want to thank the incredible team at Animal ER Care on North Nevada for the amazing care for Roam. This week also happens to be Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week. And while our vet teams take great care of our dogs all the time, it is in these unexpected and trying times we feel that gratitude even more,” a post by CSPD read in part.

The suspect, 37-year-old Anthony Bryant, was arrested following the incident. A Fort Carson spokesperson confirmed he is a Sergeant, assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group, having served for over 16 years with the Army.

Bryant was booked into the El Paso County jail and is facing multiple felony charges, including animal cruelty, resisting arrest, and burglary.

CSPD Chief Vasquez says that any residents who want to donate funds for their team should do so through the Colorado Springs Police Foundation. There is a tab specifically designated as a “K9 Roam fund.“

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Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) says they arrested two people after an incident, including one woman who is accused of assaulting a deputy during her apprehension.

According to the sheriff’s office, a car was involved in a vehicular eluding incident on Oct. 12 and was later located outside a local hotel just after midnight on Oct. 13.

Deputies say the car was associated with Patrick Duffy, age 42. EPSO says he had multiple felony warrants out for his arrest.

They approached him at his hotel room, and deputies say he was taken into custody without incident.

42-year-old Patrick Duffy (Source: EPSO)

Meanwhile, there was a woman in the hotel room who deputies allege provided them with a fake name. It was later determined that her true identity was Amber Adams, age 29.

Adams also had active warrants out for her arrest, deputies say.

EPSO says she attempted to get away from deputies, but was apprehended. The sheriff’s office alleges that during her arrest, she kicked at deputies and struck one in the face with her elbow.

“This incident is another example of our deputies’ professionalism and commitment to safely apprehending dangerous individuals,” the sheriff’s office says. “Assaulting my deputies will never be tolerated. Their actions prevented further harm and ensured these wanted fugitives were taken off the streets.”

In addition to the charges she faces under her pre-existing warrants, EPSO says she faces the following new charges:

Second Degree Assault on a Peace Officer

False Reporting

Resisting Arrest

Obstructing Government Operations

EPSO says she is being held on a $10,000 bond.

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Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — In a mountain town with a population of slightly more than 600, you wouldn’t expect speeding to be an issue.

But third-year mayor Todd Dixon said that it’s what his constituents ask him about the most.

“We don’t have a 24/7 police force,” he explained. “We just have a marshal and a deputy, and obviously, they can’t be here every day, 365 days a year.”

The mayor stated that a 24-hour traffic survey conducted by Marshal Sean Goings found that between 40 and 60 vehicles traveling through town were exceeding the 25 mph speed limit by at least ten or fifteen miles per hour.

Dixon said that Goings found a solution.

“Earlier this year — probably in August or September — the marshal came to us and said there was a company that would, basically, put a speed camera in,” the mayor recalled. “And they would just share in the revenues from the tickets. That’s how they would get paid. So, it’s literally a no-cost issue for the town.”

The camera, which went online on Wednesday, is a mobile unit that records drivers who exceed the speed limit, takes photos of the license plates, and sends the owners a $40 citation.

“Our goal isn’t to make a profit,” Dixon insisted. “We’re just trying to get people to slow down. The biggest concern we have is a child or a pedestrian being hit, injured, or killed.

To that end, the town has also installed a radar speed sign on Ute Pass Avenue, the main street there; it alerts drivers to their speed and compares it to the posted speed limit.

Dixon said that for the first 30 days, violators will have a grace period from camera fines and receive only a warning.

The mayor also revealed that speeding is a concern not only in town, but on US 24 above the town, past two connecting intersections.

Dixon said that the marshal’s survey found highway speeds often exceeding the 55 mph limit, with one driver going as fast as 93 mph.

“I was thinking there were around 13 incidents from 2017 to 2023,” he said.

Goings is asking the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to install two cameras, one in each direction, on the highway.

“Our jurisdiction includes both sides of the highway,” Dixon said.

The mayor said that Goings is gathering data on traffic citations from the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) and crash data from CDOT to further justify the need for highway cameras.

“It could take months to get a decision,” Dixon said.

The town’s Board of Trustees recently passed an ordinance authorizing Goings to take action in the matter.

“I’ve also heard that Chipita Park (a neighboring town) is also having speeding issues.” Dixon said.

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Bradley Davis

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) – Two professional carvers will try their hands at a 900-pound pumpkin in the annual “Oh My Gourd” event in front of Fountain City Hall on Saturday.

Willy Tuz from Grand Junction returns to the festival, while Jamie Louks flew in this week from Seattle. Both have competed in national competitions on the Food Network. Jamie is still competing in the current season of “Halloween Wars.”

The event is hosted by Fountain UP. The group said Rocky Mountain Giant Vegetable Growers donated the massive pumpkin that the two carvers will tear into in front of a live audience at Oh My Gourd.

Oh My Gourd is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s followed by the “Nightmare on Main Street Dance” from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., a block party with costumes and dancing in front of city hall. Fountain up said the dance will have a Boo Brew tent, games, food trucks and a costume contest.

Both events are free, with no reservation needed.

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Rob Namnoum

The Fountain Fort Carson football team falls to Legend 56-13 on Thursday night.

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Rob Namnoum

The Pueblo South football team shut out Pueblo Centennial on Thursday night 44-0.

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Rob Namnoum

Day one of the Class 4A boys state tennis tournament from Pueblo City Park.

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Sadie Buggle

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) – The Fountain Police Department (FPD) says a viral social media prank using AI-altered photos to fake home intrusions sparked a massive police response Tuesday, leading the department to warn residents about the serious risks behind the trend.

The recent trend, nicknamed the “AI Homeless Man Prank,” is gaining traction on platforms like TikTok, where users manipulate photos using artificial intelligence to create fake images of an intruder inside their home, intending to scare family members or roommates.

Officers with the Fountain Police Department say they responded to a reported burglary on Wednesday morning after a mother called 911, fearing for her daughter’s safety.

The mother told the dispatcher that she had received a text from her daughter saying, “Some strange guy just walked into the house asking to use the restroom.” Her daughter had also sent her a photo of the man in their house, whom the mother described as “homeless-looking.”

The mother said she was then unable to get in contact with her daughter, prompting her to call the police.

FPD said that due to the urgent nature of the call, every police officer and detective who was available was sent to the residence.

“Every available unit responded to this residence. When they got there, they knocked on the door. Originally, there was no response from anyone. So at that point, right now, the situation is now amping up even more because there’s no response. There’s a strange person in the home. Officers were preparing to do whatever they needed to do to get inside that home. That could have meant you know, busting down the front door, whatever that means. And eventually, thankfully, the daughter did come to the door and say that it was a prank,” explained Lisa Schneider, the Public Information Officer for the Fountain Police Department.  

She says luckily, there were no other calls for service in Fountain at the time, but if there were, it could have pulled away police resources. FPD also explained that no one would face charges in this instance since the mother believed her daughter was in danger. They say the daughter would have had to call 911, knowing she generated that image for potential false reporting charges.

“Yesterday, there was a lot of wasted resources on this call. Thankfully, there were no other calls for service at that point. But if there had been, there would have been a delayed response to someone who was having an actual emergency,” said Schneider.

“While it may seem like a joke, this prank isn’t funny,” the department said in a post to social media. “These pranks cause panic to family members, have the potential of dangerous or violent reactions, and waste time and resources of emergency responders.”

FPD is now urging parents to talk to their kids about the serious consequences of these trends and how they could have serious emotional and legal consequences.

“Please ask questions of roommates or family members before calling 911 to report such an image. Make sure it’s real,” the department said. “Make sure your family members know you’re going to call 911 and they need to tell you then if it’s a prank, before it’s too late.”

KRDO13 spoke with people in Southern Colorado about the trend. Some parents were shocked by the video and said that they would believe it if they were sent that by their child. One mom told KRDO13 she’s going to get her daughter a home phone when she’s older, saying the cellphone access to social media and artificial intelligence has gotten out of hand.

Another parent who works in AI said they would take a critical eye to the images. For example, we showed her a video of what looked like someone standing in our break room fridge.

“As the models get better and they improve, it’s going to get to a point where you can’t tell the difference between AI and reality. I can, because I can look at this with a critical eye and see that he’s not actually grabbing onto anything. But I would say the technology is rapidly improving, and pretty soon you won’t be able to tell,” explained Carly Mojica, a local parent.

Mojica noted that her son would not try to pull that prank since they both know better.

“If there was someone breaking into your house, why would you stand there and film them going through your refrigerator? I don’t know, I feel like, if there was someone in our house, I would know that he would probably be screaming and call 911. Not send me a video,” said Mojica.

Another parent explained how, while this can be scary, it’s important, it is to look out for what your kids are getting involved in.

“I like it for some uses, but I think that when it comes to imitating things that are, that are fake, that’s scary. And then, you know, because we live in a generation where everybody has access to the internet and to their phones and all the things, we have to be very conscious of what our kids are getting involved in,” explained Dr. Gloria Prince.

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