On April 20, 1999, as gunfire erupted through Columbine High School, teenage couple Nicholas Kunselman and Stephanie Hart-Grizzell hid in terror, waiting for rescue while classmates were hunted and killed. They emerged alive from the massacre that claimed 12 students and one teacher, including Rachel Joy Scott, who worked with Kunselman at a nearby Subway. In the aftermath, the pair, friends since middle school and now dating, leaned on each other as their community grappled with the horrors inflicted by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Dreaming of a future beyond their shattered hometown, they clung to hope, but fate intervened cruelly.
A Valentine's Day Tragedy
Less than a year after Columbine, on February 14, 2000, Kunselman and Hart-Grizzell were murdered side by side at the Subway store where Kunselman had worked with Scott. Unlike Harris and Klebold, who died by suicide at the scene, the perpetrator of this double homicide has never been identified or caught, leaving a haunting mystery that persists over two decades later.
The Night of the Murder
Hart-Grizzell's mother, Kelly, last saw her daughter in her bedroom on the evening of February 13, 2000, wearing pajamas and doing homework. After wishing her goodnight, Kelly went to sleep, unaware that Hart-Grizzell would sneak out to visit Kunselman, who was working the late shift alone at the Subway. The next morning, Kelly noticed her daughter's car was missing and turned on the television to see breaking news of a double murder at a Littleton Subway. As footage aired, she recognized her daughter's car in the parking lot, a chilling detail that soon led to police and news crews at her door.
"I can remember somebody saying, 'Is this the mother?' and you can't imagine - you're hoping somebody is standing behind you, or that they're not really looking at you, or that you're dreaming," Kelly recalled in a 2017 interview. "I can remember bits and pieces after that...it was February; I didn't have a coat. I remember falling to the ground."
Discovery and Investigation
At around 12:45 a.m., a co-worker driving past the Subway noticed lights still on hours after the 10 p.m. closing time. Entering the store, they found Kunselman and Hart-Grizzell shot to death behind the counter. Investigators from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office gathered crucial evidence but withheld key details known only to the killer. The exact manner of death, number of injuries, and weapon used have never been publicly disclosed.
Kunselman's mother, Wendy, described her anguish upon learning of her son's death: "I screamed and said, 'No, no... this can't be happening.' I have no idea what happened. I want to know why." The investigation quickly stalled, with over 500 interviews leading to dead ends. Early theories included a botched robbery, though nothing was stolen from the store.
Leads and Dead Ends
A witness reported seeing a white male, aged 16-20, about 5-foot-7 and 150-170 pounds, with blondish hair, wearing a red jacket and flared pants, fleeing the scene. This description generated hundreds of leads, sending investigators across the country, but no suspect was ever identified. Several false confessions emerged due to the case's national attention from its Columbine connection.
Investigators also explored potential links to local drug networks, noting indications of drug use by the teenagers but declining to elaborate. Over 50 drug cases in the area were reviewed, resulting in 35 prosecutions for unrelated charges like selling cocaine and methamphetamine to youths, but no evidence tied these activities to the murders.
Legal and Emotional Fallout
In 2003, Kelly sued the Subway franchise owner, alleging he allowed drug activity and unlocked access to the store. A judge dismissed the claim because Hart-Grizzell was not an employee, and the owner denied wrongdoing. Kelly, who lost her only child, expressed the profound impact: "My family was pretty much destroyed from this. My dad still cries every day. The impact is so far beyond me."
Initially, families believed the killer would be quickly caught, but leads dried up as weeks turned into years. The case has passed through multiple investigators, amassing over 40 binders of material, including 150 pieces of evidence and hundreds of interviews. Despite re-examinations for DNA and other clues, no breakthroughs have occurred.
A Cold Case with Lingering Hope
Recently reassigned and formally classified as a cold case, the murders remain a priority for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. A spokesperson stated: "The horrific murders of Stephanie Hart and Nick Kunselman in 2000 remain a deeply significant and heart-wrenching case... The JCSO has invested thousands of hours investigating this case and pursuing every potential lead. The department will remain relentless in its pursuit of tips and information to hold those responsible accountable."
Wendy Kunselman, who died in 2012, once said her son believed Hart-Grizzell was his soulmate: "He believed there was no way they could ever be apart. He'll be very missed by all of us." The couple were buried together in a joint ceremony, a testament to their bond.
Plea for Justice
In 2020, Kelly addressed the killer directly, urging: "You know who you are and you know that you did this - you just need to come forward." She added in a separate interview: "I think people talk about closure. Certainly, I don't expect closure, but I do hope for justice. I know the case can still be solved." A $60,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest, with tips encouraged through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
