DENVER — A woman who survived the Columbine High School shooting but was left partially paralyzed has died in circumstances now ruled as homicide, which brings the grim total of lives claimed by the 1999 massacre to 14. Anne Marie Hochhalter passed away on February 16 due to sepsis—a severe bodily response to infection. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, in a recently released autopsy report, indicated that complications stemming from her paralysis played a significant role in her death. Hochhalter was 43 years old.
Initially, her grieving family and friends suspected that her death was the result of natural causes linked to the traumatic injuries she sustained during the school disaster. The violent incident had initially claimed the lives of 12 students and a teacher, with the perpetrators subsequently taking their own lives. Given the possible link of her paralysis to her death, Hochhalter’s case was forwarded to the same office that conducted the autopsies for the original shooting victims.
In the years after the shooting, Hochhalter bravely battled the intense pain resulting from her gunshot wounds. Her dedication to overcoming the hurdles posed by her injuries and her unwavering positivity were sources of inspiration to those around her. Family and friends remember her for her relentless drive to assist others, particularly people living with disabilities, along with members of her own family. Her love for dogs was also a prominent aspect of her life.
Despite the harrowing experience she endured, Hochhalter chose to offer forgiveness to the mother of one of the attackers. In a 2016 letter to Sue Klebold, she expressed a profound realization: “A good friend once told me, ‘Bitterness is like swallowing a poison pill and expecting the other person to die.’ It only harms yourself. I have forgiven you and only wish you the best.” This choice offered a poignant perspective on healing and the power of forgiveness amidst unimaginable adversity.
