DENVER — A woman who was among the victims of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting has tragically passed away, bringing the total number of fatalities from the attack to 14. Anne Marie Hochhalter, who was partially paralyzed during the shooting, succumbed to sepsis and related complications stemming from her paralysis, according to a recent autopsy report by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. She was 43 years old.
In the devastating event on April 20, 1999, twelve students and one teacher lost their lives as a result of gunfire, while the two student perpetrators ended their own lives. Hochhalter’s brother, Nathan Hochhalter, revealed that a pressure sore, which is often a concern for individuals with paralysis, resulted in sepsis. Though aware that her life expectancy might be reduced because of her condition, her early passing was unforeseen by her loved ones.
“We didn’t think it would be this bad this soon,” he remarked.
Hochhalter endured severe pain from her injuries over the years following the incident but remained resilient and worked hard to stay positive, as noted by those close to her. She was dedicated to assisting others, especially individuals with disabilities and her family members, and had a deep affection for dogs.
In an inspiring act of forgiveness, Hochhalter once reached out to the mother of one of the shooters. In a 2016 letter, she expressed, “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.”
The tragedy that marked her life was further amplified six months following the shooting when her mother, Carla Hochhalter, died by suicide. Anne Marie noted that her mother grappled with depression but did not link her passing directly to the shootings.
Following her mother’s death, she grew close to the Townsend family, who had also lost a child, Lauren Townsend, in the Columbine tragedy. Sue Townsend, Lauren’s stepmother, initially provided support to Anne Marie as a means of managing her own sorrow, eventually welcoming her into family gatherings and trips.
“She brought a light to our lives that will shine for a long time,” Sue Townsend commented.
Last year, Anne Marie attended a vigil commemorating the 25th anniversary of the tragic event, after having missed the 20th-anniversary remembrance due to post-traumatic stress disorder, as she mentioned in a social media post. She shared that, on this occasion, she was filled with joyful memories from her youth and expressed a desire for those who perished to be remembered for the lives they led.
“I’ve truly been able to heal my soul since that awful day in 1999,” she wrote.
