Barbara Lawlor

On September 19, 2016, Katie Kulpa, 71, of Left Hand Canyon, being the kind of person she is, picked up three young hitchhikers, in a typical random act of kindness. Those who knew her say she always wanted to help someone in need.

She was driving back from Ward towards her home when she saw the group who were trying to get a ride after camping over the weekend. They told her they had been stranded and needed to get to where they could catch a bus. Katie brought them to her cabin saying they could wait there for someone to pick them up. The group included a 16-year-old juvenile male, a 17-year-old juvenile woman and a 19-year-old man.

According to the arrest warrant, the trio stayed with Kulpa for several hours until the 16-year-old, identified as Jeffrey Collins, decided they should assault the woman and steal her car. His companions didn't agree to the assault, so Collins began to beat her. The two other campers ran to the nearest house, about half a mile away, to call for help.

When Boulder County Sheriff's Deputies arrived, they found Kulpa suffering from a massive head injury and multiple fractures and lacerations. She was transported to the Boulder Community Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

Collins was gone, reportedly receiving a ride with the driver of a white hatchback that stopped in town to pick him up. The other two campers stayed at the scene with Kulpa and were cooperative in the investigation. Investigators began a search for Collins and for anyone who might have given him a ride. They obtained an arrest warrant for Attempted First Degree Murder, a class one felony and First Degree Assault to an At-Risk Adult, a class two felony. Bond was set at $1 million. A $1,000 award was offered for information leading to the identification of the suspect.

Collins was found in Broomfield a few days later and arrested. The Boulder County District Attorney's office has decided to seek adult charges against Collins. Usually adult charges can result in a combination sentence of a few years in juvenile prison and then time in the Colorado Youthful Offender system. The sentence rests with the judge and the defendant's life, substance abuse issues, mental health, education and prior criminal history.

Kupla is reportedly recovering from her injuries but has a way to go before she can return to her former life. Family and friends have started a gofundme account to help her recover, under Mom's Stabilization Fund.

With winter and cold weather coming, as well as a stack of unknown hospital bills, this fund will assist in easing the financial shock to a woman who barely leaves a footprint of any kind. It will assist in the purchase of firewood, food, fuel for her car, medical bills and the very basics of living expenses.

With enough donations, the family can easily reach its goal and with that comes peace of mind that the community came together for a random act of kindness to simply pay it forward.

Gold Hill friends say that Katie Kulpa has been an incredible asset to every person she has ever run into. "She's a wonderful host in many ways, with no shortage of smiles. Lots of laughter around the camp fire with libations and a 5-star meal cooked on a small woodburning stove to top off any visit."

Katie was never a person to bring harm in any way to anyone she ever knew. She adores living in and being one with nature. She has lived without running water or electricity for over 15 years. She is more resourceful than most people half her age and at 71 years old, she can still swing an axe.