New Evidence Casts Doubt on Conviction in Deadly 1991 Grand Junction Bombings

In 1991, tragedy struck the city of Grand Junction, Colorado, as three pipe bombs that were planted in various locations were detonated, resulting in two deaths and one serious injury.

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The man who was convicted of the crimes, James Genrich, has maintained his innocence since receiving a life sentence in 1993, and now, over 30 years later, new evidence shows that he may have, in fact, been wrongfully accused.

Pipe Bombs Detonated in Grand Junction, Colorado

The ordeal that resulted in the deaths of two innocent people is believed to have begun in 1989 when an undetonated pipe bomb was discovered in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Roughly two years later, in February of 1991, a similar bomb was detonated in the parking lot of what was, at the time, the Two Rivers Plaza, leaving one person injured.

The next bomb was planted in the wheel well of a van at the home of Maria Dolores Gonzales, who was in the vehicle at the time and tragically passed away. This was followed by an additional bombing the following June that led to the death of Henry Ruble.

Alleged Grand Junction, Colorado, Bomber Maintains Innocence

James Genrich was tried and convicted of first-degree extreme indifference murder in 1993, a crime that carries a life sentence, though he has maintained his innocence since day one.

However, Weil, the legal team that represents Genrich, along with the Innocence Project, has successfully secured a retrial on the basis of claims that there are “serious flaws in the scientific validity of that key forensic evidence presented by the State at his trial.”

While the Colorado Court of Appeals has upheld Genrich’s request for a retrial, the Colorado Supreme Court has recently denied a request to hear the case.

Check out the full story here.