Authorities investigate Broomfield-area death

BROOMFIELD - Boulder County authorities are investigating the apparent murder of an elderly man whose body was found inside his rural home near here Wednesday.

Walter Joseph Yokum, 76, was found dead when a woman arrived to clean his house at 8:30 a.m. and could not get an answer at the door. The woman became suspicious and went to Broomfield to call for herlp.

Sheriffs officers arrived at 9 a.m. and found signs of forced entry into the home. Yokum's body was found in the entryway. Investigators suspect the man was shot to death said Sheriff George Epp.

"He had obvious signs of trauma." Sheriff's Lt. Steve Prentup said. He declined to be more specific. The house was not ransacked, nor did anything appear to have been taken, Prentup said.

"I don't think he walked in on anything," Prentup said. "It might have been just where he ended up." Witnesses reported seeing a suspicious vehicle in the area Wednesday afternoon that investigators said may be linked to the case. The car is described as a mid-'70s to early 80s mid-size Fort (sic) or Mercury station wagon, painted off-white over gold or copper with green and white Colorado plates.

- The Daily Sentinel October 23rd 1993