Paul Gallenstein died doing what he loved: enjoying Colorado’s outdoors. But not by drowning, taking a fall or being hit by lightning.
The amiable and deeply religious Gallenstein died from a fatal gunshot wound while hiking a popular trail that overlooks Fort Collins on Sept. 10, 2023.
One year later, the active case is growing cold, leaving his widow, Cindy Gallenstein, wondering if law enforcement will ever find the killer of her husband of 36 years.
“The very first time I met with the investigator, I told him, ‘if I don’t find out the who, what and why, that will do me in,’ ” Cindy said, sobbing. “I just want justice for Paul.”
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Paul’s death as a homicide. Additional details about his death have not been released by the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.
For the first time since the fatal shooting, Cindy; her brother-in law, Tom Gallenstein; and Sgt. Rita Servin, investigator with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, gave the Coloradoan exclusive interviews ahead of the one-year anniversary of Paul’s mysterious death.