Boulder police: Cold case murder solved

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Marty Grisham

Boulder police have arrested a suspect
investigators believe is responsible for the 1994 death of 48-year-old Marty
Grisham.

According to police, Grisham was gunned down around
9:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, 1994, as he answered a knock at his apartment door. When
Grisham opened the door, an assailant shot him four times before fleeing the
scene. He had been having dinner with his girlfriend at the time. Grisham lived
in the 5600 block of Arapahoe.

Grisham was rushed to the hospital, where he died
of his injuries. Grisham was the city of Boulder’s data processing director at
the time of his death.

Today, police arrested Michael Martin Clark, 36, in
unincorporated Summit County, on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Police say Clark was an acquaintance of Grisham’s
daughter at the time of the homicide. Initially, he was a person of
interest/suspect in the crime because he had admitted to stealing a book of
checks from Grisham, which he used to forge nearly $4,500 from Grisham’s
account. Grisham reported the theft and identified Clark as a suspect when he
discovered the theft on Nov. 1, 1994. Grisham was killed later that night.

Clark was arrested on a forgery charge on Nov. 3,
1994, and later pled guilty to that charge. He said he was able to access
Grisham’s home because he’d been given a key by Grisham’s daughter so he could
take care of Grisham’s cat. Police say he denied any knowledge of or
involvement in Grisham’s murder.

“Cold cases like this one are often solved through
good, old-fashioned detective work. Diligence, attention to detail and
perserverence — that’s how detectives solved this crime,” said Boulder Police
Chief Mark Beckner.

The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms (BATF), the DEA and the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force provided
technical and investigative assistance during the investigation, police said.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to
contact Det. Chuck Heidel at 303-441-3339. Those who have information but wish
to remain anonymous may contact the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at
1-800-444-3776. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website
at www.crimeshurt.com. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead
to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect may be eligible for a cash
reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.