Candace Hiltz, a teen mother, was killed in her family trailer in Fremont County, Colorado, in August 2006. The ferocity of the murder stunned the country, and the police had to overcome obstacle after obstacle, even one close to home. However, despite a decade of inquiry, the killer(s) remain at large. While Candace’s mother feels that the culprits are someone, the authorities believe that the killer is someone else.
‘Valley of the Damned: Impossible Perpetrator’ on Investigation Discovery methodically explores the complicated case, laying out the evidence for viewers to understand. If you’re curious about the case and want to learn more, we’ve got you covered. Let’s get started, shall we?
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Candace Hiltz’s Cause of Death
Candace Colleary Hiltz was born in Canon City, Fremont County, Colorado, on December 22, 1988. She was on her way to completing an online program at Brigham Young University. Candace’s mother, Dolores Hiltz, recalled how Candace hoped to attend Stanford Law School and one day become a US Supreme Court justice. The 16-year-old was also a teen mother, with her partner, Jesse Weaver, having an infant daughter, Paige. Paige was born with hydrocephalus, an uncommon illness.
Candace was opinionated, which often got her in trouble, despite being hilarious and brilliant. She had a talent for telling people what she thought of them, even if it meant offending them. Dolores believed it was a factor in her horrible murder. Candace resided in a trailer with her mother and kid in the Copper Gulch neighborhood, and on August 15, 2006, Jesse arrived to discover his daughter screaming alone in her crib. He also noticed blood in the trailer’s corridor, and when Dolores arrived, she discovered her daughter’s practically beheaded body tucked beneath a bed.
The body was wrapped in a green quilt, and when Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they discovered she had been shot seven times. She received one wound to the face, one to her left breast, and five rounds to the back of her skull. The autopsy report revealed that three distinct guns were used: a 45 Long Colt for the face, a.22 and a.410 shotgun for the head and the face, respectively. The cops found no evidence of sexual assault or robbery.
Who Murdered Candace Hiltz?
Candace’s brother, James “Jimmy” Hiltz, was named as a key suspect in the murder after investigators cleared Jesse Weaver of any wrongdoing. Jimmy was accused of a series of local burglaries and suffered from a variety of psychological disorders, which led to his divorce from his wife and children. Because of his fear of humans, he used to live in the hills beyond the trailer where Candace lived with her mother and kid.
When Jimmy was not located following a murder, a three-day manhunt started, and he was eventually apprehended. However, investigators were unable to link him to the death of his sister. Jimmy was a regular patient at the Colorado Mental Health Institute, and he was declared not guilty on the grounds of mental insanity on allegations of an unrelated burglary, and he was condemned to be readmitted to the mental institute. With no new leads or suspects, the case quickly went cold.
However, the case was reopened in December 2016 after a Canon City resident, Rick Ratzlaff, purchased a storage shed previously owned by Lt. Det. Robert Dodd, an investigator in Candace’s murder inquiry. While searching through the contents, Rick came upon a manila packet labeled “Evidence,” which contained a blood-stained rope, an ax, and bloody socks. The contents were thought to contain evidence from the Candace murder case, prompting the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to launch an investigation.
In 2018, Robert was convicted of tampering with public records and an official misdemeanor and sentenced to 15 days in jail. Dolores first blamed her son Jimmy for the murder, but eventually switched the blame to law enforcement officers. On August 10, 2006, a deputy went to the Hiltz residence to question Dolores about Jimmy’s possible trespassing, which ended in a violent exchange with Candace. Three days after the altercation, the Hiltz family discovered their dog’s dead in the woodland behind their trailer.
Dolores argues that it was law enforcement officers who reportedly killed her daughter and the dog, as well as botched the investigation in order to cover up their crime. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, on the other hand, firmly denies the charges and has even given evidence linking Jimmy to the murder. Jimmy’s ex-wife and Jesse testified to the police about Jimmy’s recurrent bouts of rage. The murder weapons had been stolen as part of a series of neighborhood thefts in which Jimmy had been a suspect.
The most damning piece of evidence, however, is a bone fragment discovered near Jimmy’s former residence during the murder. It matches the DNA of the victim, and the investigators have presented their evidence to the district attorney. While the police await a decision on the case, Dolores denies circumstantial evidence implicating her son as a murderer and argues that law enforcement officials played a hand in her daughter’s death.
What Happened To James Hiltz?
After the court found him not guilty of murdering his sister, James Hiltz was sent to the Colorado Mental Health Institute. There is currently no information available about him.
Candace Hiltz, his sister, is regarded as someone who could not stand any injustice. She was also admitted to the Stanford Law School. She died when she was 17 years old.
Her older brother, on the other hand, suffered from severe social anxiety. It was defined as a phobia that interfered with his interactions with his family. He used to live in the woods behind his family’s house to avoid any contact with humans, including his own family.
Despite his lack of relationship with his family, Candace was overprotective of her brother and did not appreciate anyone who spoke negatively about him. Robert Dodd, a Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputy, arrived at their home one day looking for James.
He was looking for him to question him about a trespassing incident. He was discussing the situation with his mother. Candace, on the other hand, was offended by the way he spoke to her mother and made comments about her brother.
As a result, she decided to intervene and began yelling at the officer. As a result, he threatened her with arrest, and she bravely held her wrist up. She also threatened him, saying she had witnessed him taking envelopes from drug traffickers and would inform other sheriff’s deputies about his behavior.
Did Candace Hiltz Brother James Hiltz Killed Her?
James Hiltz was apprehended on suspicion of murdering his sister, Candace Hiltz. Candace’s mother discovered her body at her home. She was shot several times with three different firearms.
Her head shots were so bad that it was nearly impossible to identify her. Her missing dog was also discovered tied up in a tree and murdered with an axe after her death.
The police who were sent to the crime scene left several key evidence behind, and the victim’s family alleged that the crime scene was not properly protected, making it easier for others to come and contaminate the evidence.
Furthermore, the authorities began questioning the family about James after he went missing following the death of his sister. His mother informed the cops about his mental illness and stated that he had no history of violence.
Nonetheless, the detectives ignored the response and went on to apprehend James Hiltz. He was discovered three days after the incident and charged with first and second-degree murder and trespassing, despite the fact that the case investigation was still ongoing.
However, he was ruled not guilty due to insanity and committed to a mental hospital.
Update on the Candace Hiltz Murder
Candace Hiltz’s murder has taken no new turn. Although the inquiry is ongoing, Robert Dodd, the deputy who was threatened by Candice, has been charged with her murder.
In 2016, Rick Ratzlaff attended a storage unit auction and purchased a unit for $50.00. The apartment contained some police lights, old police clothes, and case files.
He also found an axe, blood-stained rope, and bloody socks. They were all packaged in separate plastic bags inside a manilla envelope labeled evidence, which eventually turned out to be crucial evidence in Candace’s murder.
Candace’s family gained new hope as a result of the evidence, but they are still waiting for justice to be served.
