After two days of investigation, Colorado authorities revealed that the reported stabbing of a park ranger at Staunton State Park was an elaborate hoax.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by CBS Colorado, 26-year-old Callum Heskett, a volunteer seasonal park ranger, radioed for help around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, claiming he had been attacked near the Old Mill Trail. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) employee overheard Heskett shouting “get back” and “he’s fighting me” over the state park’s radio system.
A Jefferson County deputy responded to the area and heard Heskett over the radio saying he had been stabbed. The deputy instructed him to call 911 to trace his location and later found Heskett kneeling in a grassy area, holding a pocket knife lodged in his lower abdomen.
Heskett told authorities he saw a man hunched near a tree, confronted him, and was attacked. He claimed the suspect yelled “F— the police,” fought him on the ground, grabbed his knife, and stabbed him. Heskett said he pepper-sprayed the man before the attacker fled. He was airlifted to Saint Anthony’s Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.
Authorities launched a manhunt and briefly closed Staunton State Park, but no suspect was found. While recovering, Heskett gave investigators a vague description of the alleged attacker but said he might not be able to identify him.
Initially, authorities treated the case as a targeted attack, interviewing two potential suspects, but both were cleared. By Thursday, investigators determined the incident had been fabricated.
Body camera footage raised doubts about Heskett’s story. The deputy’s video showed no dirt or grass stains on the back of Heskett’s uniform despite his claim of wrestling on the ground. He also had no visible head injuries, though he alleged being struck on the head.
The footage further showed Heskett texting on his phone and taking videos of his knife wound and helicopter ride before law enforcement arrived. He reportedly shared these clips with CPW staff and his parents, telling investigators he thought the videos would “help the investigation.”
A deeper review of Heskett’s iPhone search history revealed alarming queries, including “how deep are arteries in lower abdomen,” “arteries in abdomen map,” and “abdominal anatomy.”
Authorities said Heskett gave inconsistent statements, including suddenly recalling that the “suspect” wore a black latex glove only after being asked for a DNA sample. He later blamed the delay on painkillers.
Heskett was arrested and faces multiple charges, including:
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Attempt to influence a public servant
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Tampering with physical evidence
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False reporting to authorities
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Reckless endangerment
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Obstructing government operations
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Second-degree official misconduct
Officials called the incident a “serious misuse of public resources”, noting the hours of manpower spent on a manhunt based on a fabricated story.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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