The mothers of three children who went missing or were killed in unsolved Colorado cases spoke in favor of a bill last week that would create harsher penalties for those convicted of tampering with dead bodies in an effort to hide evidence.

Elaine Hall, the mother of Dylan Redwine, who went missing when he was 13 years old from his father’s house outside of Durango, urged members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to approve Senate Bill 34.

“We continue to search for the rest of Dylan’s remains,” Hall said, describing how just a few of Dylan’s remains were found scattered all over Middle Mountain a few miles from his father’s house. “While a person of interest, his father, has been named we continue to fight for justice for Dylan and hope at some point the district attorney in Durango will actually do something to bring justice in Dylan’s case.”

Hall noted that Dylan would have turned 17 on Feb. 6, so “you can imagine this time of year is very difficult for my family, but working toward changes that would help all families in our state also helps us cope with the loss of Dylan.”

The bill passed out of committee on a 3-2 vote. 

Gov. John Hickenlooper has made a friendly Super Bowl wager with North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory: If the Broncos lose, Hickenlooper will donate a variety of Colorado products to North Carolina shelters and food banks, including Osprey backpacks filled with school supplies, salsa made in Pueblo, crackers and sausages made in Colorado and dog food to an animal shelter. If the Panthers lose, McCrory will be donating 50 cases of turkey burgers and 50 cases of turkey sausages from North Carolina-based Butterball LLC, to a Colorado food bank.

House Bill 1061 passed out of a Democrat-dominated committee this week with only one no vote for the bill sponsored by two Republicans from Colorado Springs, Reps. Terri Carver and Dan Nordberg. The bill would require the Colorado Department of Transportation to consult with military installations when planning projects near their bases. Carver said the bill was inspired by a report released last year that showed infrastructure surrounding Colorado bases could be a major factor if the nation goes through another round of Base Realignment and Closure. The bill also would require the impact a project would have on military installations to be a factor in setting priorities. Now HB 1061 will be heard by the full House.

Andy Cross