Summary of “48 Hours” Episode: The Peggy Hettrick Case - Part 1

Podcast Information:

• Title: 48 Hours
• Host/Author: CBS News
• Episode: The Peggy Hettrick Case - Part 1
• Release Date: February 19, 2025

Introduction

In this gripping installment of “48 Hours,” CBS News delves into the complex and haunting case of Peggy Hettrick, whose brutal murder in 1987 shook the quiet community of Fort Collins, Colorado. Hosted by Anne-Marie Green, the episode navigates through the layers of investigation, wrongful conviction, and emerging doubts that have lingered for decades.

The Crime Scene

On the early morning of February 11, 1987, the lifeless body of Peggy Hettrick, a 37-year-old woman, was discovered in a field near her home in Fort Collins. The grotesque nature of her death left the community in shock.

• Investigator (01:11): “She was walking down the curb line. She had no clue that the attack was coming. He circled around, came up behind her, stabbed her.”

• Homicide Detective (01:34): “One deep stab by a long knife into her back, which killed her very quickly.”

The scene was gruesome, featuring a bloody trail and signs of sexual mutilation.

• Investigator (01:44): “You could see a bloody drag trail in the furrows, the body been displayed. Then there was sexual mutilation.”

Peggy’s death was not only violent but also sexually motivated, intensifying the panic within the small town.

• Homicide Detective (01:55): “Fort Collins in 1987. It very much had a small town feeling. So when Peggy Hettrick was killed, it was shocking to this community.”

The Suspect: Tim Masters

Tim Masters, Peggy’s 15-year-old neighbor, quickly became the prime suspect. His proximity to the crime scene and peculiar behavior drew immediate suspicion.

• Homicide Detective (02:24): “I was called on the case within the first hour that it occurred. I was the one who tied Tim Masters to this case.”

Tim’s reluctance to report finding Peggy’s body and his disturbing personal drawings further implicated him.

• Tim Masters (02:54): “I didn't do nothing. Would we bring you in here without.”

• Investigator (02:58): “This was a kid. When we searched his residence, that had all kinds of graphic drawings, mutilation, dismemberment.”

Despite his denials, the evidence against Tim remained purely circumstantial, relying heavily on his unsettling artwork.

• Homicide Detective (03:20): “There was not enough evidence to make an arrest.”

However, the persistence of Lieutenant Broderick kept the investigation focused solely on Tim.

• Peggy Hettrick's Brother (03:25): “Through the years they focused on Tim Masters. The Hettrick homicide was opened and closed. Went cold. It was Lieutenant Broderick that reopened the case.”

The Trial and Conviction

In 1999, after years of interrogation and mounting pressure, Tim Masters was arrested and put on trial for Peggy Hettrick’s murder. The prosecution's case was built on psychological evidence rather than concrete physical proof.

• Homicide Detective (12:16): “Tim Masters had informed a friend about Peggy’s mutilation.”

• Expert Witness (26:48): “Tim Masters is symbolically killing his mother. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Tim Masters was the killer.”

Despite the lack of physical evidence tying Tim to the crime, his eerie drawings and behavioral patterns were presented as indicative of his guilt.

• Prosecutors (30:01): “The jurors didn’t see the skinny little 15-year-old kid. He’d grown into an imposing figure, looking fully capable of the crime.”

The jury found Tim guilty within a day and a half, sentencing him to life without parole.

• Tim Masters (32:43): “I didn’t think for a minute that I would lose a trial. I didn’t think it was possible to be convicted for something I didn’t do.”

Doubts and an Alternate Suspect

Years following Tim’s conviction, emerging evidence and testimonies cast significant doubt on his guilt. Peggy’s brother, a former policeman, highlighted the absence of exculpatory evidence that could have exonerated Tim.

• Peggy Hettrick's Brother (04:03): “There was evidence at the crime scene that eliminated Tim Masters and it was not told to the jury. Every single piece of exculpatory evidence is withheld.”

An alternate suspect, Dr. Richard Hammond, a prominent eye surgeon living near the crime scene, came into focus. His disturbing voyeuristic behavior and possession of surgical tools resembling those used in Peggy’s murder aligned ominously with the crime's specifics.

• Expert Witness (37:04): “He had meticulous records. Some of the 300 tapes of these victims...”

Despite these troubling correlations, police failed to adequately investigate Dr. Hammond, dismissing him as unrelated.

• Peggy Hettrick's Brother (37:27): “Nobody else had a motive. Nobody else had the opportunity. Nobody else had the weapons. This is the guy.”

Hammond’s sudden suicide following his arrest only deepened the mystery, as it eradicated any chance to connect him directly to Peggy’s murder.

• Expert Witness (37:28): “I don't know that I ever... Will be over it.”

Systemic Failures and Concealed Evidence

The episode sheds light on significant systemic failures within the Fort Collins Police Department. Critical evidence linking Dr. Hammond to the crime was destroyed, a decision orders by Lieutenant Broderick, leaving unresolved questions about Peggy’s true murderer.

• Peggy Hettrick's Brother (40:34): “They were destroyed. And we should talk about why they were destroyed. You’ve got all these victims that are on those tapes...”

This deliberate destruction of evidence prevented a comprehensive investigation, ensuring that both Tim Masters' innocence and Dr. Hammond’s potential guilt remained unaddressed.

Conclusion

“The Peggy Hettrick Case - Part 1” masterfully uncovers the intricate web of suspicion, wrongful conviction, and overlooked evidence that has haunted the Fort Collins community for decades. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that the quest for justice in Peggy’s murder is far from over, setting the stage for further exploration in the upcoming second part.

• Peggy Hettrick's Brother (42:44): “Stay tuned for part two tomorrow.”

Notable Quotes:

• Peggy Hettrick's Brother (02:07): “She was a highly intelligent person, very artistic. Peggy was my older sister. She traveled all over the world. Just an amazing person.”

• Tim Masters (04:16): “I’ve been locked up for 10 years.”

• Homicide Detective (12:35): “He definitely needed to be looked at. Yes, definitely he did. And it was very easy for everybody, kind of a pack mentality to start focusing on him.”

• Expert Witness (37:08): “I look for specificity of links between Tim Masters and the facts of the homicide itself.”

This episode serves as a poignant exploration of a case fraught with unanswered questions and systemic oversight, highlighting the profound impact of investigative focus and the dire consequences of neglecting alternative leads.