Cold Case: 3 Murdered At Littleton Bowling Alley In 2002

LITTLETON, CO – Littleton police and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers are once again asking for the public's help on the 17th anniversary of a 2002 triple-murder at a Littleton bowling alley.

Erin Golla, 26, and Jim Springer, 29 and Bobby Zajac, 23, were found shot to death late at night Jan. 27, 2002 at the AMF Broadway Bowl at 5485 S Broadway in Littleton. Golla, a mother of two girls and Springer, a father and recent transplant from Utah, were both working at the bowling alley on the closing shift. Bobby Zajac had been bowling and was going to get a ride home from Jim Springer, police said.

After closing the alley, Erin called her ride to come pick her up, police said.

"After that call, the three victims, Jim, Erin and Bobby, came into contact with an unknown person/s that robbed the business and shot the three victims to death," the statement from Crime Stoppers said. "When Erin did not come out to meet her ride, that person entered the alley, found the victims, and called police."

Erin's friend also saw a man leave the bowling alley, with a shaved head and wearing a trench coat, according to media reports. The man smirked at her and then left in a pickup truck. The robber forced employees to open the bowling alley's safe and remove cash and a few checks, media reports said. The bowling alley had also been burglarized a few weeks earlier, police said.

Over the years, various theories about the killer have surfaced, including that the killer may have been a "phantom" robber with no ties to Littleton or the three victims.

Here are the victims of the AMF Bowling Alley murders:

• Erin Golla was a 26 year old single mother of two little girls. Erin had graduated from Bear Creek High school. Erin was survived by her father, two daughters, one brother and one sister.
• Bobby Zajac was 23 years old and worked for AMF Bowling Alleys. He was an award winning bowler and had several rings that indicated he had bowled a perfect score of 300. There were many people that predicted Bobby would become a professional bowler. He was also planning to earn a college degree in accounting. Bobby was survived by his parents and one brother.
• James Springer was a 29 year old father of two. He and his family had just moved from Utah to Colorado at the beginning of December. He was described as a “gentle giant” who always stuck up for the underdog. He worked for the AMF Bowling Alley on South Broadway. Jim was survived by his wife, two children, his parents and a sister.

If you have any information about this incident, call Littleton Police or the Crime Stoppers Hotline, 720-913-STOP (7867).

Image via Shutterstock

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