Colored Red

1975 Colorado Springs Killing Spree

Laura Porritt

In the early morning hours of July 1st, 1975, a woman was found dead on the porch steps of a trailer in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A blood trail 50 yards long marked the area where she crawled to the steps, and bloody marks on the door marked her futile attempts to ring the bell before dying. Her name was Karen Grammer, sister of famous actor Kelsey Grammer. It wasn't long before investigators discovered that all three murders over the course of 2 weeks were committed by the same suspects. Daniel Van Lone had been shot to death and robbed of 50 cents only days prior. Then Winfred Proffitt was stabbed with a bayonet during a staged drug deal. Police were on the hunt for three men on a rampage, and then, one of them cracked.