Description

In April 1980 an unidentified body is found on a deserted beach, but the mystery is just beginning. Who was he, and where did he come from?

Stephanie McCann, a 22yo reporter with The Weekly Islander, is told the story of the Colorado Kid by old timers Dave Bowie and Vince Teague. Their story is full of intrigue, but fails to answer the simple questions - why was he on the island, how did he get there from Colorado so quick, and how did he die?

Published

2005

Dedication

With admiration, for DAN J. MARLOWE, author of The Name of the Game is Death: Hardest of the hardboiled.

People

NameDescription
?, RickBoyfriend of Stephanie McCann
Alger, HoratioPaul Devane was called a "little sip of Horatio Alger"
Arnault, NancyWith her boyfriend Johnny Gravlin when they found the Colorado Kid dead April 1980 on Hammock Beach
Bin Laden, OsamaMentioned in passing
Blakee, WilliamTashmore Methodist Church pastor in 1980, and attended the Tashmore Lake Church Picnic in 1990. He had previously had an affair with Rhoda Parks, but had ended the relationship. Died after drinking the poisoned iced coffee
Bond, JamesMentioned in passing
Bowie, Dave65 year old managing editor for "The Weekly Islander". 35 pounds overweight. Worked for the paper for about 40 years. He helped tell Stephanie McCann the story of the Colorado Kid
Carvey, AbeWorked at the Tinnock Funeral Home. Embalmed the body of the Colorado Kid
Cat StephensSinger thought of by Stephanie McCann
Cathcart, ?County medical examiner in Tinnock that did the autopsy on the Colorado Kid. Died of a heart attack in 1998 or 1999
Christie, AgathaAuthor mentioned
Cogan, ArlaWife of James Cogan and mother of Michael. She rang Dave Bowie in October 1981 after seeing a picture of James in the paper. Chubby redhead with freckles
Cogan, James (Colorado Kid)Found dead by Johnny Gravlin & Nancy Arnault on 24 April 1980 on Hammock Beach. He was from Nederland, west of Boulder, Colorado. 42 years old, blond. Worked as a commercial artist for Mountain Outlook Advertising, he went out for a coffee 23 April, 1980 and never returned. Buried in the Tinnock funeral home crypt at Seaview Cemetery before his identity was found
Cogan, MichaelSon of Arla and James Cogan. 6 months old when his father disappeared
Devane, Paul23 year old graduate that worked with Dr Cathcart. Used mainly to fetch useless things, and became disillusioned with the job. When he left he went back to study to be a lawyer. He noticed the stamp on the bottom of the cigarettes that were on the Colorado Kid, which was eventually used to help track his identity down
Dunwoodie, EllenWoman who's car parkbrake failed and it crashed into a fire hydrant on beach lane. Contacted the paper to tell her story while it was fresh in her mind
Edwick, ?5 unnamed children of Gard Edwick
Edwick, GardFerryman in April 1980 when James Cogan, the Colorado Kid, went across the ferry. He was sacked in 1985 for drinking, and then drove a snowplough. Soon after he crashed the snowplough into a power pole, knocking the lights out for a week in February, and was sacked and left the area
Edwick, MrsWife of Gard Edwick
Ferguson, EllaOne of the only 2 survivors of the Tashmore Lake Church Picnic in 1990, along with Clayton Riggs. She drunk the poisoned iced coffee, but did not die. Interviewed about once a year about the story
Ford, JohnMentioned in passing
Gernerd, ?5 unnamed children of Sam Gernerd
Gernerd, MrsWife of Sam Gernerd
Gernerd, SamOwner of the Gernerd farm
GodMentioned in passing
Gosslin, HerbieFerryman mentioned
Gravlin, JohnnyWith his girlfriend Nancy Arnault, when they found the Colorado Kid dead April 1980 on Hammock Beach. In 2005 he is the Moose-Lookit Island mayor. Had buck teeth as a child, but had them fixed, and now sports a flashy gold tooth
Hafner, ?2 unknown children of Helen Hafner
Hafner, HelenWaitress at The Grey Gull. 40 years old and single mother of 3 children. She was given $40 of Hanratty's money as a tip
Hafner, JudeChild of Helen Hafner. Fell from a tree a week earlier and broke his arm
Hafner, MrEx-Husband of Helen Hafner. He left her
Hanratty, ?Feature writer from the Boston Globe. He spoke with Vince Teague and Dave Bowie about mysteries in the area while at lunch, then left after paying $100 for the lunch. $40 of it was put into the pocket of Helen Hafnerf1~
Harrington, JackFather of Maisie
Harrington, MaisieLived beside an airstrip on the coast. She was asked about air traffic in April 1980, but said no plane had landed there at all.f1~
Haverty, ?Founding partner at Mountain Outlook Advertising. He was retiring in May 1980 and there was a party for him planned
Holmes, SherlockDetective mentioned
Hood, RobinMentioned by Dave Bowie
JesusMentioned in passing
Jonna Jaye and the Strawhill BoysPlayed at the the annual end-of-summer Gernerd Farm's picnic
Lagasse, MarcyFerryman mentioned
Lansbury, AngelaActress from "Murder, She Wrote"
Lester, ?Young boy waiting for a kidney transplant
Little Red Riding HoodChildren's story character mentioned
Marple, JaneMentioned in passing
MaryThe Virgin Mary, mentioned
Mays, WillieMentioned in passing
McCann, MrsMother of Stephanie McCann
McCann, Stephanie22 Year old writer at "The Weekly Islander", she prefers writing her stories onto Yellow Legal pads rather than into a computer. Hired from the university, she is 3 months into a 4 month Internship, and stay on Moose-Lookit Island and is told the story of the Colorado Kid by Vince Teague and Dave Bowie
Millay, Edna St. VincentPoet mentioned by Dave Bowie
Moody, JackOwner of The Grey Gull
Morrison, ?Detective that attended the scene after the body of the Colorado Kid was found
Murray, ?Worked at the Attorney Generals office and spoken to by Dave Bowie regarding the evidence found on the Colorado Kid's body. He told Dave that it was a Colorado sticker on the base of the cigarettes
O'Shanny, ?Detective that attended the scene after the body of the Colorado Kid was found
Oakley, AnnieSharpshooter mentioned
Olson, JimmyMentioned in passing
Oscar the GrouchMentioned in passing
Parks, RhodaAt the Tashmore Lake Church Picnic in 1990. She had previously had an affair with the Tashmore Methodist Church pastor William Blakee, and was upset that he had ended the relationship. Died after drinking the poisoned iced coffee
Pinder, MrsPart-time secretary for "The Weekly Islander"
Poe, Edgar AllanPoet mentioned
Queen, Elleryauthor mentioned by George Wournos
Rankin (Or Franklin), GeorgeArtist who worked with James Cogan on the Chevrolet account at Mountain Outlook Advertising. Spoke to James just before he disappearedf1~
Riggs, ClaytonOne of the only 2 survivors of the Tashmore Lake Church Picnic in 1990, along with Ella Ferguson. He drunk the poisoned iced coffee, but did not die. He was paralised down the left side of his body. Interviewed about once a year about the story
Riponeaux, TeodoreCrewman on "Pritty Lisa" when it washed up on Smack Island in 1927. He was dead, but none of the other 5 crew members were ever found
Robinson, ChrisMoose-Lookit doctor in 1980. Brother of Henry Robinson. He was called by George Wournos when the body of the Colorado Kid was found. Big man
Robinson, HenryBrother of Chris Robinson. Once dated Arlette Teague before she married Vince Teague
Steen, EdinaWrote a letter of complaint to "The Weekly Islander" about Stephanie McCann's column. Dave Bowie said she was "Quite Mad" and was the Downeast Grammar Queen
Stewart, AlSinger thought of by Stephanie McCann
Stout, RedMentioned in passing
Teague, ?2 unnamed children of Vince Teague
Teague, ArletteSecond wife of Vince Teague. Married 6 years after the death of his first wife Joanne
Teague, JoanneFirst wife of Vince Teague. She died
Teague, MrsMother of Vince Teague. Mentioned
Teague, Vincent90 year old writer for "The Weekly Islander". He started the paper in 1948. Looked 70. He helped tell Stephanie McCann the story of the Colorado Kid, and the research they did to find his true identity. Died 6 months after telling the story
Watson, DrHelper of Sherlock Holmes
Wilde, OscarMentioned in passing
Wournos, GeorgeMoose-Lookit Island constable in 1980. Rung by Nancy Arnault when she and Johnny Gravlin found the body of the Colorado Kid. Owned "Western Auto"
Yeates, ?Author mentioned