9,000 Sharpies later, deputy DA Peter Hofstrom retires

Little · Jul 22, 2005

Hofstrom's work on the never-solved JonBenet Ramsey homicide case thrust him into the national spotlight. Hunter, in a controversial decision, ultimately took him off the case.

"I had no regrets about that decision, but it hurt people," Hunter said. "That's all I'll say about that."

9,000 Sharpies later, deputy DA retires
Hofstrom started in office as paralegal for Hunter in 1974

By Christine Reid, Camera Staff Writer
July 22, 2005

Peter Hofstrom, a longtime Boulder County deputy district attorney, walked into an IHOP this week to order an omelet, and the waitress stepped back.

"Hello, Mr. Hofstrom," she said.

Not immediately recognizing the young woman, Hofstrom invited her to take a seat, and she shared with him her experience as a defendant he once prosecuted. She had done her time in prison and was now getting her life back together on the outside.

She told Hofstrom she appreciated the way he treated her â€” fairly and with respect.

"That made me feel good," Hofstrom said.

As the No. 3 prosecutor in the district attorney's office for a quarter of a century, Hofstrom worked his share of high-profile cases. They might have served as springboards to, elected positions â€” or possibly book deals and media gigs.

But a simple 10-minute conversation with a waitress who turned her life around is the kind of reward Hofstrom says he worked for over the past 31 years in the office. That work will end today with his retirement.

"You can't be, in my view, much more fortunate than I've been," said Hofstrom, 64.

A Brooklyn native, Hofstrom worked as a guard at California's infamous San Quentin prison while putting himself through college. He later enrolled in law school at the University of Colorado and worked at the Boulder County Jail.

Former District Attorney Alex Hunter hired Hofstrom as a paralegal two years after Hunter was elected in 1972. Within four years, Hofstrom was one of Hunter's two top attorneys.

"He tried a case like a bricklayer," said former First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wise. "When he got through, he had a wall absolutely unpenetrable."

Hofstram's strongest asset was his ability to communicate with defendants, thanks in part to his prison-guard experience, Hunter said.

"He could talk their talk," he said. "I think if there was a brand of justice in the office during my administration, he was the main force behind that brand â€” compassion, fairness and also respect for the law and importance of deterrence."

Hofstrom's work on the never-solved JonBenet Ramsey homicide case thrust him into the national spotlight. Hunter, in a controversial decision, ultimately took him off the case.

"I had no regrets about that decision, but it hurt people," Hunter said. "That's all I'll say about that."

Loyal, compassionate and quirky are words that continued to surface this week in the Boulder County Justice Center as colleagues talked about Hofstrom's tenure.

"He is a tremendous litigator," said District Attorney Mary Lacy, who after her election in 2000 reshuffled attorneys and demoted Hofstrom.

She recalled one closing argument in which Hofstrom, in an attempt to demonstrate for jurors how hands can be lethal, nearly knocked himself unconscious with his own punches and slaps to his face.

"It convicted" the defendant, Lacy said.

Hofstrom will no doubt be remembered fondly for his eccentric running outfit: khaki work pants, black dress socks, running shoes, a short-sleeved and collared shirt sometimes covered with a sweatshirt, a white skullcap to keep the sweat from rolling off his bald head and a Moses-type staff to keep dogs at bay.

And if his co-workers forget about that, they will surely be reminded of him burning through a plethora of black and red Sharpie markers he will leave behind. Each day, he would use a new one, and estimates in the office are that he burned through 9,000 pens during his career in Boulder.

http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/county_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2423_3945715,00.html
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JC · Jul 22, 2005

Not immediately recognizing the young woman, Hofstrom invited her to take a seat, and she shared with him her experience as a defendant he once prosecuted. She had done her time in prison and was now getting her life back together on the outside.

She told Hofstrom she appreciated the way he treated her â€” fairly and with respect.

That's almost funny. I'd need confirmation on that.

This is funny. "He is a tremendous litigator," said District Attorney Mary Lacy, who after her election in 2000 reshuffled attorneys and demoted Hofstrom.

RiverRat · Jul 23, 2005

Magnificent News!!!

Thank God that another is gone from the Evil Empire.......just in case another rich family whacks out the daughter and the check book. :devil:

RR

wombat · Jul 25, 2005

And if his co-workers forget about that, they will surely be reminded of him burning through a plethora of black and red Sharpie markers he will leave behind. Each day, he would use a new one, and estimates in the office are that he burned through 9,000 pens during his career in Boulder.
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SHARPIES!!!

Could this be a new, unforeseen clue? The Smoking Sharpie? We all thought it was Patsy's Sharpie - perhaps our judgment was too clouded to see the real source.

Anyway. Good to see another crack Boulder LE official depart. Can they do interviews/write books after they leave office, I wonder - now that Lin Wood isn't able to sue the world. This guy has seen all the evidence. If there is anything we don't know, I'd like to know about it.

The Punisher · Aug 1, 2005

I always thought he took a few blows to the head.

Deja Nu · Aug 1, 2005

R.I.P. - Retire in Peace, Mr. Hofstrom, on the bodies of all dead children whose perps you allowed to walk.

Boulder's shame - reminds me of the Warren Commission Report that shall remain sealed until 3 generations of Kennedys have passed away. Perhaps it will be our great grandchildren who will finally see justice for JonBenet.

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9,000 Sharpies later, deputy DA Peter Hofstrom retires

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