Who Killed Natalie Bollinger? Lopez’s Plea Deal and Autopsy

Natalie Bollinger was killed by Joseph Michael Lopez, a 22-year-old from Northglenn, Colorado, who shot her in the head in a wooded area off Riverdale Road in Adams County on December 28, 2017. Lopez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to a maximum of 48 years in prison.¹ Bollinger, 19, of Broomfield, had been reported missing by her boyfriend the same day; her body was found on December 29.²

How Police Identified Lopez

The break came from Bollinger’s cell phone. Investigators found 111 text messages sent and received on the night she disappeared, all with a single unknown number. That number traced back to Lopez.³ Her boyfriend had also told police that his Glock 9mm pistol was missing.⁴

What Lopez Told Investigators

Lopez changed his story under questioning. He first claimed Bollinger had shot herself in the temple. When investigators pushed back, he said she had “convinced him to help kill herself.”⁴

In that second version, Lopez said he had been browsing the “Women seeking men” section of Craigslist when he saw a post from Bollinger with a title along the lines of “I want to put a hit on myself.” He said he answered her posing as a hitman, exchanged long text conversations, and met her on December 28.⁵

According to the arrest affidavit, Lopez said Bollinger told him she wanted to be killed quickly and wanted to kneel and be shot from behind so she would not see the gun. He said she supplied the firearm and told him he could keep it. The two walked into the trees, knelt, and said a prayer, and then he shot her. Lopez said he panicked, took her purse and the gun, and drove home.⁴

His account of Bollinger’s role rested entirely on his own word, and he had already lied once about how she died.

Why Bollinger’s Alleged Stalker Was Cleared

In the weeks before her death, Bollinger had obtained a permanent restraining order against a man named Shawn Schwartz, whom she accused of stalking her and threatening her family. On December 13, she posted a public warning on Facebook naming him.⁶ When her body was found, Schwartz was the obvious suspect, and Broomfield police confirmed they spoke with him. He was never arrested or charged. Investigators cleared him and moved on to the phone records that pointed to Lopez.

What the Autopsy Showed

The Adams County coroner ruled that Bollinger died from a gunshot wound to the head inflicted by another person. The autopsy also found a potentially lethal level of heroin in her system, and noted a documented history of heroin and methamphetamine use. Specific quantitative drug levels were not publicly released.⁷

The Plea Deal and the Family’s Response

Lopez was initially booked into the Adams County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.⁸ Rather than take the case to trial, prosecutors accepted a plea to second-degree murder with a maximum 48-year sentence, which took a potential life sentence off the table.¹

Bollinger’s father, Ted Bollinger, told reporters the deal felt like “spit in my family’s face.” At sentencing, he said, “There’s no justice in this.”¹

1
AP News. Man Gets 48 Years for Murder in Hit Advertised on Craigslist
2
CBS News. Missing Colorado Woman Natalie Bollinger Found Dead After Getting Restraining Order
3
WRAL News. Suspect Claims Natalie Bollinger, 19, Hired Him Through Craigslist to Kill Her
4
KCEN-TV. Affidavit: Slain Broomfield Woman Put Ad on Craigslist Asking for Someone to Kill Her
5
WCNC. Affidavit: Slain Woman Put Ad on Craigslist Asking for Someone to Kill Her
6
PEOPLE. Police Not Ready to Call Anyone a Suspect in Death of Colo. Teen Who Named Alleged Stalker on Facebook
7
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Accused Killer Claims Victim Put Hit Out on Herself in Craigslist Ad, Police Say
8
WFTV. Accused Killer Claims Victim Put Hit Out on Herself in Craigslist Ad, Police Say