$30,000 reward for information on Marilee Burt homicide
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A $30,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) involved in the murder of Marilee Burt. After 51 years, investigators, family and friends have not given up in the search to find who brutally murdered the then 15-year-old Marilee Burt.
Marilee was last seen alive walking home in her cheerleading uniform after a basketball game at Goddard Junior High School in Littleton, Colorado on February 26, 1970. Several independent witnesses reported seeing Marilee walking a route that included Berry Drive, Bowles Avenue and Middlefield Road, but she never made it home.
The day after she disappeared, a Jefferson County road crew found Marilee’s naked body in Deer Creek Canyon, several miles away from where she was last seen, and contacted law enforcement. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office collected evidence and interviewed witnesses. Years after her death, investigators were able to create a DNA profile using evidence that was collected at the scene. The DNA found hasn’t yet yielded a match for the killer in local or federal databases, however investigators remain hopeful that whoever responsible for this horrendous crime will be brought to justice.
“The substantial increase to the reward hopefully allows us to collect more information to bring the suspect(s) in the Marilee Burt homicide to justice.” Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown said, “We continue the complex work required to follow up on leads in this case for Marilee and her family. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office is grateful for the commitment from community members to assist in bringing justice for victims of crime and victim’s families.”
Marilee was last seen talking to someone in a vehicle that had stopped on South Middlefield Road. Her family began a frantic search and reported Marilee as missing to Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office.
“This is not a cold case by any means. Every year we receive several tips on this case and we are hoping with the generosity of the anonymous donors that we will finally be able to identify who perpetrated this horrific crime against Marilee” said Michael Mills, Metro Denver Crime Stopper Board President.
If you have information about this egregious crime, no matter how miniscule it may seem, please contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers and be eligible for a reward of up to $30,000. Call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers (720) 913-7867 - (720) 913-STOP.
Submit a tip online: https://www.metrodenvercrimestoppers.com/anonymous-tips
To be eligible for the award and to remain anonymous, tipsters must call the tip line or submit a tip online. Metro Denver Crime Stoppers collects information on unsolved crimes or individuals wanted by the police. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $30,000 in this case. The tip line is answered 24 hours a day - 7 days a week.
