Drawn To Murder

A Teen Is Hunted For Murder. Now, Some of the Cops Who Helped Put Him Away Want to Set Him Free

(CBS)  For Tim, that old cliché finally is true: this really could be the first day of the rest of his life. He is waiting for word on whether the Dutch DNA findings will persuade the judge to grant him a new trial. Certainly his excited lawyer thinks they should. "What they didn't have in 1999 was the DNA evidence," Wymore says. "The person who killed her touched her."

Tim's gigantic family packs the courtroom, joining legions of other supporters.

Not on hand is Jim Broderick, called out of town on a family emergency. But from their crime farm in Holland, Selma and Richard Eikelenboom traveled to Colorado.

The state confirmed the Dutch DNA results, and with that, the prosecutor takes bold action, instructing his deputy to move for Tim's immediate release. With that, the hearing abruptly ends. The states' witnesses never even testify. And, after more than nine years, Tim is suddenly a free man.

"How would you describe what this feeling is like?" Spencer asks.

"Just imagine, well I don't even know if you can imaging spending all that time up there in prison and finally being free after all these years. I don't even know how to answer that question," Tim says.

But he is determined to try. Three days after his release, the state drops all charges against Tim, but prosecutors still won't officially clear him of Peggy's murder. "They still have him on a leash, I mean even though - just because your case is dismissed nobody’s ever come out and said, 'Tim Masters did not commit this crime,'" Liu says.

The DNA that freed Tim leaves lingering questions about Peggy's ex-boyfriend. He today lives in Fort Collins, keeping a low profile. Zoellner didn't respond to repeated attempts to contact him.

The Colorado attorney general now has the Hettrick case, but won't comment on it.

Asked if absent of a confession, anyone will be convicted for this crime, Liu says, "No, I really don't. Since Richard Hammond is deceased, their defense attorney is gonna say, 'Look at this guy, he's the one that did this.' There's no way."

He still may be the defense's favorite suspect, but using a sample of Hammond's DNA provided by his wife, the state says he has been ruled out as the killer. "There is no evidence tying to Dr. Richard Hammond. He just happened to live in the neighborhood," says Don Quick.

The court never ruled on whether the original defense lawyers did their jobs, but Erik Fischer accepts some blame. "Great day for Tim Masters, not really a great day for me. I am upset that this happened and happened on my watch."

If the original prosecutors are upset, they're not talking. Both were publicly reprimanded and fined for failing to disclose information to the defense.

By then, they had been promoted to judges. But Tim doesn't blame them for what happened. "It's pretty obvious who did this to me. It was one detective, Jim Broderick."

Asked what he would say to Broderick if he sat across from him, Tim says, "I wouldn't talk to Jim Broderick at this point. I'm not gonna say it on camera."

Broderick, the man who pursued Tim over the decades, was cleared by the state of any criminal wrongdoing. He makes no apology for his actions. "I believe that I followed the evidence, okay? And the evidence pointed to Tim Masters."

"They find the ex-boyfriend's DNA inside her underpants, on the cuffs of her blouse," Spencer points out. "Does that not give you any pause?"

"Well, you can find DNA evidence and it may have an innocent explanation," Broderick says.

Ironically, Broderick says Tim's lawyers only had that crucial information because of him and his passion for saving everything. "That characterological trait of mine, of wanting to hang onto the information, not knowing its future use has helped Tim Masters because had I not done that, it wouldn't have been available to be tested."

He says everything, including Peggy's clothes, would have been destroyed.

That may not mean much for Tim, struggling to put together a new life. He's got some unlikely new friends, like Linda Wheeler, the first cop to ever suspect he was guilty, Maria Liu, whose office he still regularly visits, and Barie Goetz, who traveled to Amsterdam with Tim to appear on Dutch TV with Richard and Selma Eikelenboom.

He has a new apartment with no guards, no orders, and no rules. "For the last two years I was in a six-by-eight cell, which was about from this wall to that wall and about to here," he says, standing in his bedroom.

Not surprising then that he relishes walks in the great outdoors.

"I'm glad for him. I'm glad for him that he has his freedom," says Peggy's brother Tom Hettrick, who long has long doubted Tim was his sister's killer.

He greeted the news of Tim's release with mixed feelings. "But I'm also measured because I want people to realize this is not over yet."

"Peggy is the ultimate victim in this. Tim Masters got to go home. Peggy's not coming home. She's never coming home. She comes home in your heart and in your mind," he adds.

And the murder that so shocked the peaceful town of Fort Collins 20 years ago seems as big a mystery now, as it was back then.



Tim Masters is suing Jim Broderick and the city of Fort Collins.

Further tests found DNA from two other males on Peggy Hettrick's clothing.
There's no word yet on any match.

[naj1953]

Best wishes to Tim...May your life bring you Happiness now....

[noonajae]

I feel so sorry for what happened to Tim. As I watched the 1987 interrogation,I can see how helpless he was with the things he was being accused of. He couldn't figure out how he was going to defend himself since things said to him by the interrogator were all pointing to him as the main suspect. Though he maintained calm, I sympathize with what he had went thru at such a young age plus the fact, that he has just lost his mom 4yrs ago. Adding insult to the injury, he was put behind bars without solid proof of evidence. Investigators handling this case should dig deeper in the people, details & pieces of evidence before sending anyone behind bars. One false accusation is enough to destroy a man's future & lifetime...why not check on the people Dr.Hammond was staying with as well as the ex-boyfriend, something might give you a better lead on this case. Try to find out more on how were the last few days of Dr.Hammond before he killed himself. It was also mentioned that the way the body was mutilated was sort of surgical in manner, why not check deeper on this aspect? The one who did it may be wearing gloves not to leave prints...there are still things to be traced out which may eventually give us the truth of what happened to Ms. Peggy the night she was murdered without mercy, as well as, who the real culprits are. As for Tim, the drawings he did, as what he stated that he did to catch his friends' attention because they like his drawings, for a boy his age at that time, & not having a mother, I see a certain logic in it. It's a stage in a young life when most teen agers want certain kind of attention. For him, he was able to get that thru his drawings. It's also a stage when one becomes curious of so many things about life , the world, things around, etc.His fondness of collecting knives may also be part of his growing up as a young man, just like collecting stamps, since he goes hiking. Why not talk to his dad or close family members to know more of his childhood days before concluding that he may have done the gruesome thing due to losing his mom? I feel it so unfair to judge someone in such way. Losing a parent at a tender age is painful enough already, much more to be judged. The reason of his mom's death was not mentioned. Since it was stated that : Further tests found DNA from two other males on Peggy Hettrick's clothing.There's no word yet on any match. As what many are hoping for, Tim's innocence will further be proven & appropriate actions will be taken for those who have put him behind bars,same goes for those who have really committed the crime that justice may finally be served to Ms. Peggy & her family. Tim, am sure that for the humiliations & pains you were made to go thru, you wouldn't have made it til today without God by your side, do keep & hold on to your faith in God...we may not yet know why this has happened to you, you are not alone in such....many things happen to many of us,certain tragedies, misfortunes, for which we cry our hearts & souls out, just like what was done to Ms. Peggy, if she is alive today, am sure she would be asking for the reason that it happened to her....there are things that happen to us for which we may never know why....but GOD knows, as well as the reason....but as human beings, we just have to pray for His grace & mercy to be able to accept things even without knowing why....what matters most is that, despite of the tribulations we encounter, we still keep our faith in Him & able to move on with a good direction in life for a better tomorrow...you are still very young...I believe, if you keep it that way....God will pour His blessings of good fortunes & success your way....God is our refuge , His love for us is always unconditional, it is the same yesterday,today, tomorrow, & the days to come.... am sure, your mom is very proud of you as her son for having endured this difficulty...my prayers are with you & your family, same goes to Ms. Peggy's family....

[Confidential416]

Broderick should spend as much time in jail that Tim had to spend.

[Snowhare]

Are you ever going to put the TV episode online?
I'd be glad not to have to read 8 pages of film...

[nickatnoon]

Thanx Cheryl, what is so far-fetched???? The ones at the top have ALL of the power to do what they wish with no legal consequences. Isn't it quite obvious how Broderick FRAMED the kid, with all of the resources handed to him by his superiors. The ex may have been involved b/c usually the last ones to be seen with the victim are the perps. Look how the SYSTEM covered up the doctor's involvement in PORNOGRAPHY by destroying thousands of video tapes! Is that far-fetched too? The average un-informed citizen knows not what REALLY goes on! They think shows like "Law and Order" etc. are actually real. You have NO IDEA who the cops really "serve and protect". That is what is truly sad!

[cheryllhorn]

I agree that the ex-boyfriend should've been given more serious attention. The odds are in his favor. He admitted to seeing her right before her death & his 'she wasn't pleased to see him dating' story seems contrived. More likely HE was mad at her. Did he really have a date & was it just a coincidence they wound up @ the same place? What did he do for a living & what were his hobbies? With that said, I find it hard to believe there was a more perverted person than the eye surgeon in the neighborhood. But a voyeur doesn't necessarily make a murderer. If the Dr. did do it, who was his accomplice? His wife? That's pretty far-fetched. I think it's more believable that the ex could've rounded up a friend. I really don't think the kid did it, but what about those drawings? Why would he draw that dragging picture? Even if he did it after the murder, why?

[opticallady1]

This so called cop will answer in a higher court in the end

[cander4388]

Young people have a very hard time defending themselves. When I was 16 I got into some serious trouble because a neighbor boy was a real bonehead and upset us so a friend and I broke into his house ( His Parents House) and stoled a few Items including a ring. We were caught because a neighbor was sharp and payed attention to the goings on in the neighborhood. I am sure that if Tim would have reported the body to his parents even if he thought it was a prank things would have been different. People should not be so not intereted in the things going on around them. Keep your eyes open and report fuuny things Better safe then sorry.. My problems after being sent to Juvinile hall helped me grow up. I am sorry for doing the stealing and I feel I am a much better person now because some neighbor cared about what was going on in thier neighborhood .

[hek1273]

While I take much of what I see and learn on broadcast television with a huge grain of salt, after watching last night?s episode of 48 Hours Mystery regarding the murder of Peggy Hettrick, I was outraged. If only 10% (and I believe that to be incredibly conservative) of the broadcast was accurate, then Fort Collins, Colorado (or at least its police department) is in a sad state of affairs.

I watched in disbelief as a lone police officer was allowed to single-handedly destroy the life of an innocent human being ? with absolutely no evidence whatsoever; Timothy Masters.

It became very clear early on that Officer Jim Broderick had set his sights on this young man even though he didn?t have a shred of evidence. As Broderick moved up the ladder (no doubt on the back of Masters), he positioned himself uniquely to spearhead his campaign against Masters.

What strikes me most about this case was the scope and magnitude of Broderick?s intent to deceive the defense by his exclusion of exculpatory evidence ? the extent of which clearly shows intent. In other words, his actions were criminal. To learn that he and his actions have been cleared by Fort Collins Police, is unbelievable.

There is no doubt that Broderick knew what clearing such a high profile case would mean for his career and his willingness to be at the forefront of such a ?witch hunt? is despicable. He stripped the liberty and freedom of a human being for more than a decade, for nothing more than his own personal gain. I hope he can sleep at night.

Herb Kane
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada.

[MMN186]

It REALLY bothers me that Jim Broderick is still being paid with tax payer dollars and wearing a police uniform. This idiot should and hope will lose his career and every last penny he has. Our judicial system in this country is so broken and instead of firing idiots like Officer Broderick and the two original prosecutors which are so incompetent in their jobs they are promoted?????

I hope there will be such national outrage about Tim Masters case that atleast Broderick will be fired. As for the original prosecutors Im sure they will be looking down their noses at cases for years to come from their courtroom throne.

[COL-AF]

I believe I read in some article the victim's body was posed and the mutilation was done with surgical precision. Would the boyfriend possess the skill to do that? I would hope someone has profiled this individual. We all know how ridiculous it was to conclude a 15 year old boy did this.

[GeeMyKnee]

I viewed the episode regarding Tim Masters last evening. Somebody has dropped the 'ball' by not investigating the former boyfriend. It was stated that he offered the victim a ride home (while he was on a date with someone else, mind you) and Ms. Hettrick declined and said she'd walk home. The former boyfriend knew where she was, and was going. Apparently, he had opportunity to commit dreadful atrocities upon the person of Ms. Hettrick. However, the former boyfriend was not investigated. Hmmmm! Methinks something stinketh (in the state of CO).

[COL-AF]

The mutilation to Peggy Hendrick's body was remarkably similar to the injuries found on body of Colonel Philip Shue; a story 48 Hours covered in April 2009. I would think investigators might start asking some questions about this: Was Col Shue's death a copycat; or is there some type of connection? The AF Academy is not too far away ... maybe investigators should start exploring that possibility; signature type wounds by certain groups. It is hard to believe excising nipples with surgical precision is very common. I believe that is why a doctor in the Ft Carson area was considered a suspect until recently ruled out.

Unfortunety for Tim Masters, the other similarities in the case were the arrogance of the Detective who formed his conclusion and made the pieces fit, and his Forensic Psych "lier for hire" friend Reid Malloy.

I hope the state of Colorado brings "real justice" to Tim Mathews and holds all wrongoers in this case accountable. The state of Texas should then follow their lead.

[skipgeo]

What a case! Just goes to show you that homicides should never ever be investigated by the local police. Reminds me of 2 Rhode Island cases: Geo Lonergan and David Hornoff. Two very scary people: Dr Meloy and officer Broderick. Did you test their DNA? Maybe Officer Broderick kept all this evidence to save/defend himself or someone he knows. Don't like Tim's love of knives tho. That has never been addressed. Keep going in the investigation. There's more. I can feel it. Be sure to get the judges' notes from every appearance before the bench in the original trial. The defense can learn volumes from them. And for God's sake, solve this crime. How many more women went missing?

[hercule1122]

This case is a study in how-to-not pursue a killer of a female who was brutally murdered. From the top down, the prosecutors and investigators were not even competent, but remember this is the same area as the Ramsey fiasco. The prosecutors admitted they had no evidence and still went on to destroy Tim's life with the willing help of a brain-dead jury who rendered the verdict. Have you ever wondered why the two sides in a case pick the most ill-informed to serve on a jury? I have seen it time and time again.
I believe the two prosecutors are now promoted to judges--SCARY! And finally we have the so-called expert, Dr. Meloy. Honestly, he is a nut case and has little academic standing.
Now it is probable that noone will ever pay for this horrendous crime because of the actions of so many in the Fort Collins department.

[bill-the-carpenter]

I think that officer Broderick should lose his job and with that, his pention. This idiot is still employed and possibly framing people. Any case he had anything to do with should be reinvestigated, this goes for the prosecution team as well. And now you tell me they became judges? my GOD what has the justice system become. Shame on them all.

[brainey103]

I just finished watching the show about Tim and I find it appalling that officer Broderick (and I use officer loosely) cannot admit his wrong. He will have his judgement day and it will be far worse than what he put Tim through. In the mean time, if I were him I would be doing whatever I could to bring the person to justice that this family so deserves, even if they have to exhume the doctor that killed himself in order to exclude him. And for her ex-boyfriend: if it was him, God rest your soul for letting an innocent man (boy) spend 10 years of his life in prison for something you did. Your judgement day will also come. And to all those who didn't give up on Tim, attorneys, d.a's etc.and family, God Bless You All. I could not even imagine. Good luck to you all and Mr. Broderick, I do not know how you sleep at night.

[mtssimpson]

notice how they could convict this man with circumstantial evidence and yet with real evidence such as exonarated him they can't convict the real killer? Something is wrong with this picture. DNA got Tim free why can't they prosecute the real culprit.

[sfrancais]

Are you putting this episode online like the others. Please do if possible I was unable to watch last weeks shows because of a 5 plus hour power outage ( i missed both feeds. I am from Canada and rarely miss this show ( i tape it when Im out ) I find it be quite interesting. Take care Sean

[nickatnoon]

Hi toonxz, was/is there any evidence that Doctor Hammond and Broderick were connected in some way? Of course all of these Occult/SATANIC/PEDOPHILE/SRA groups are protected by the police, but unless one has done the research, has some critical thinking ability, and has personal experience, one gets ridiculed,and censured by the innocent/ignorant masses. Keep in mind, by deleting, and editing material, any TV "program" can deliver the message they want to deliver. This case has similarities to the Blue Dahlia case in Hollywood years ago. The perp was most likely a doctor with surgical skills,also. The woman in that case was fraternizing with some very powerful people, and was probably going to "blab" some incriminating evidence. She was disfigured accordingly. I have also been railroaded by our corrupt court system....more than once, so it is not a stretch of the imagination for me,what the courts/police are capable of!