Woman’s Mysterious Death in National Park Sparks Investigation of Husband

DENVER, Colo. — A tragic fall in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park in 2012 led to a complex investigation revealing decades of deception by the victim’s husband. Toni Henthorn’s anniversary trip turned deadly, resulting in her husband, Harold Henthorn, being found guilty of first-degree murder in 2015.

Toni Henthorn, a successful ophthalmologist, and Harold, a fundraiser, were celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary when the accident occurred. On their trip, Toni fell from a 160-foot cliff under mysterious circumstances, prompting an investigation by the National Park Service.

In the wake of Toni’s death, their daughter, Haley Bertolet, was just seven years old. In her first interview since the incident, she fondly remembered her mother, describing her as “amazing” and “intelligent.” The investigation began when Harold reported that Toni had accidentally slipped off the cliff.

Photos taken from Toni’s camera and Harold’s phone captured their time before the incident. “Our theory was that he was trying to lure her to stand where he is,” said Beth Shott, a former special agent with the National Park Service. “That he’s saying, ‘Look honey, this is safe. You can stand here.’” The investigation unraveled inconsistencies in Harold’s claims, prompting authorities to scrutinize his relationship with Toni.

A nanny for the couple revealed that they slept in separate rooms, raising questions about their marriage. “He would go on these trips, but he wouldn’t have luggage, and then he would just kind of show up the next day,” Shott stated. After digging deeper, investigators found that Harold had a history of deceit regarding his profession and finances, failing to show evidence of a successful fundraising career.

Shott recounted how Harold claimed to hold certifications he did not possess, further uncovering a facade of their life together. “He had posed for almost 20 years as somebody he’s not,” she remarked.

Letters sent anonymously to authorities highlighted previous questions surrounding Harold’s past marriage. His first wife, Lynn Henthorn, also died under peculiar circumstances in 1995, which Harold attributed to an accident. The striking similarities between Lynn’s and Toni’s deaths raised alarms for investigators.

Despite maintaining that he was not responsible for the deaths of either wife, Harold’s actions and the newly uncovered evidence against him painted a troubling picture. Friends and family recounted how Harold had adopted a controlling demeanor after Toni’s death, even going as far as to dictate Haley’s everyday actions.

“He sat me down and he told me that she had ‘lost consciousness forever,’” Haley recalled, noting how he discouraged her from crying. Investigators worried about Harold’s potential threat to Haley’s safety, especially as she became isolated from the rest of her family.

As authorities built their case, they noted that Harold took out several life insurance policies on both wives, raising suspicions about financial motives. “We’re seeing this pattern of building up her net worth, so to speak, if she were to die,” Shott explained. The pattern prompted scrutiny from investigators, leading to the discovery that he had received substantial payouts upon Lynn’s death.

In October 2015, Harold Henthorn was convicted of first-degree murder after a lengthy trial. The jury was swayed by the arduous nature of the hike leading to the cliff and the context of the events surrounding Toni’s death. Since then, Haley has been adopted by her maternal uncle and his wife, where she found security and a sense of belonging.

Haley now aims to share her story and inspire others. “I want them to know that regardless of what they’ve been through, there’s always a way out of the darkness,” she stated.