Toni Henthorn and her husband, Harold, went on a trip to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park in 2012 to celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary. However, the trip ended in tragedy when Toni fell off a 160-foot cliff and died. What seemed like an accident at first led investigators to uncover a web of lies spanning decades.
Toni was an ophthalmologist, and Harold claimed to be a fundraiser. They lived near Denver with their 7-year-old daughter, Haley. After Toni’s death, investigators found inconsistencies in Harold’s story. Photos on Toni’s camera and Harold’s phone suggested he may have lured her to the cliff’s edge.
The case took a turn when authorities learned about Harold’s past. His first wife, Lynn Henthorn, had also died under suspicious circumstances in 1995. Harold claimed she was crushed under their car while he changed a tire, and her death was ruled accidental at the time. However, when Toni died in another remote location, people began questioning his story.
Investigators also discovered that Harold had no real job. His business card claimed he was a certified fundraiser, but the organization that grants the certification had no record of him. His tax records showed he had made almost no money for 20 years. In addition, Harold had been controlling in his marriage, with the family nanny revealing that he and Toni slept in separate rooms and that Harold often took mysterious trips without luggage.
Another shocking discovery was that Harold had taken out multiple life insurance policies on Toni, totaling $4.5 million. He had also received $600,000 after Lynn’s death. Investigators believed he was setting up Toni’s financial worth to benefit himself in case of her death. He even tried to take out a life insurance policy on a friend, naming himself as the primary beneficiary.
After Toni’s death, Harold controlled Haley’s every move. He restricted her access to food and toys and monitored her with a baby camera. Authorities worried about Haley’s safety, and when Harold was arrested in 2014, they ensured she was protected.
In 2015, Harold was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Though he was never charged for Lynn’s death, investigators believe the similarities between both cases were too strong to ignore.
Haley was adopted by her uncle, Barry Bertolet, and his wife, Paula. She has since moved forward and says she forgives her father—not for him, but for herself. She hopes her story can inspire others to overcome difficult times and find their own path to healing.
