In January 1984, murder arrived in Colorado for a 12-day stay. Over 12 long days, the cities of Aurora and Lakewood, Colorado, were terrorized by a real-life boogeyman. His M.O. was horrifying yet simple and effective. He targeted strangers. He raped women and children and then bludgeoned them to death. But just as quickly as he arrived in Colorado, the Hammer Killer mysteriously vanished.

Episode Sources:

http://coldcasewriter.com/

https://www.denverpost.com/2021/08/06/hammer-killer-guilty-alex-ewing/

https://www.denverpost.com/2018/08/25/1984-aurora-hammer-killer-fbi-profile/

https://www.sakitta.org/toolkit/docs/Understanding-the-Use-of-John-Doe-Arrest-Warrants-in-Prosecuting-Cold-Case-Sexual-Assault%20for-Prosecutors.pdf