Fort Collins settles lawsuit with Timothy Masters

Timothy Masters' lawsuit against the city of Fort Collins, two current police officials and a former police detective was settled on June 8 with a payment to Masters of $5.9 million.

Fort Collins' portion of that amount is $1,575,000, with the balance to be paid by the city's insurance carriers.

In 1998, a jury convicted Masters of murdering Peggy Hettrick in 1987, when he was 15 years old. Masters was sentenced to life imprisonment, and both the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed his conviction. In 2008, new scientific techniques allowed investigators to find DNA evidence from someone else on Hettrick's clothing. Masters was subsequently released from prison.

According to City Manager Darin Atteberry, "The decision to settle this case does not mean the city agrees with Mr. Masters' allegations. To the contrary, we remain firmly convinced that Lt. Broderick and the other officers who investigated the Peggy Hettrick homicide did so in good faith, using the best technologies and expert consultants that were available to them at the time. The decision to settle the case is strictly a business decision that reflects the financial realities and risks of proceeding to trial."

Larimer County reached a settlement agreement with Masters in February for $4.1 million. The county also admitted no guilt in its settlement.

In his lawsuit, Masters contended that Fort Collins Police Services intentionally concealed exculpatory evidence and manufactured evidence against him. The city denied those allegations.