On the Trail (in Memory of Tim Watkins) – Investigation of Tim Watkins’ murder revitalized

By Steve Pate

Seven years after Tim Watkins was killed, the investigation into his murder has been reinvigorated. There’s a new detective on the case who’s been reinterviewing friends of Watkins in the past month.

As OCN has previously reported (see the October 2022 issue at https://ocn.me/v22n10.htm#photos), Watkins was murdered while riding in one of his favorite areas near Mount Herman and Limbaugh Canyon. He was shot and killed, his body moved off -trail and partially buried. He was found Sept. 17, 2017, by volunteers searching for him.

Often a community has information that might be of value to criminal investigators. If you have information about Watkins or his murder, please contact Jennifer Bucholtz, criminal investigator with El Paso County Sheriff ’s Office at 719-520-7227.

About 50 people participated in the dedication of a plaque at the Watkins memorial next to the Palmer Lake Library on Sept. 14. Vickey Meeker, who helped organize the event, said this will become an annual celebration of Watkins’s life, whether or not his killer is found. Meeker is one of those who’s been interviewed by the investigator recently. After presentations by Meeker and her son, Rob Meeker, who rode with Watkins, many of the group biked from the ceremony in Palmer Lake down the Santa Fe Trail to Trails End Tap Room and Eatery in Monument to continue sharing memories and good times with Watkins.

The Palmer Lake Star was lit on the evening of Sept. 14 to honor Watkins’s memory.

**Above:** Vickey Meeker remembering Tim Watkins. Photo by Steve Pate.

**Above:** The Palmer Lake Star was lit Sept. 14 in memory of Tim Watkins. Photo by Vickey Meeker.

Steve Pate may be contacted at stevepate@ocn.me.

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