Warning ⚠️ There are some disturbing details about this case. Some in which will be discussed in great detail. Reader discretion is advised.⚠️

🪁 Aurora, Colorado, May 22, 2004:

May 22, 2004, Al’s residence: Al had failed to show up for work one morning which immediately caused his coworkers to worry as Al was very dedicated and responsible. A welfare check was conducted at his residence, what police found was beyond disturbing.

This case is considered to be one of the most chilling, calculated, and baffling crimes in American history.

On May 24 after a welfare check was conducted, police found a highly organized, deeply sadistic killer who had systemically purged the home of physical evidence. (Example in the actual live footage in the photo above)

While looking at the main floor of the townhome, everything appeared to be relatively normal.

There were:

1. No signs of forced entry
2. Al had willingly let the killer in his home because he believed the man was his new roommate who had just signed the lease
3. “Robert Cooper” who supposedly worked at Wells Fargo. “Cooper” was an alias and his rental application was entirely fraudulent.

The Kitchen: Al’s nightmare began in the kitchen where the killer grabbed knives from Al’s own kitchen block to use as weapons.

Lack of evidence: The killer was increasingly methodical, making sure there were no traces of fingerprints high-touch surfaces like doorknobs or countertops.

The Basement: Al’s basement was the primary spot where the crime took place. The scene showed clear signs of a prolonged, ritualistic attack. Al was securely bounded by his hands and feet effectively trapping him. Al had endured hours of intense torture. He had been beaten, strategically stabbed with his own kitchen knives.

The killer had used the kitchen knives to inflict precise and non-fatal wounds meant to inflict maximum pain.

Al was tortured and beaten for several hours before ultimately being stabbed to death.

Investigators found Al Kite’s body in the basement hog-tied and bound with both his hands and feet tightly secured together, leaving him defenseless during the attack.

Forensic evidence suggested that Al was attacked and ambushed from behind while carrying a recliner chair down the basement stairs. Al had been severely beaten, particularly on his feet. He also suffered agonizing puncture wounds including being stabbed inside his ears and above his eye with kitchen knives from his very own kitchen.

The autopsy determined that Al sustained a total of 22 stab wounds and was nearly decapitated.

Despite the careful precautions of the crime, the killer managed to leave behind a small trail of DNA. Investigators managed to recover a small trail of foreign DNA from the scene; mostly from bath towels that were used after the killer had taken a shower. A few years after murder, genetic genealogy testing on this DNA revealed a twist…the DNA couldn’t be matched to any domestic database or family trees, leading investigators to believe that the killer was an international hitman or an individual overseas from Southeastern Europe.

Most witness accounts noted that “Robert Cooper” spoke with a Romanian accent, and walked with a very noticeable limp.

The clean-up: forensic countermeasures:

One of the most disturbing things about this case is the fact that the killer didn’t seem to act with any urgency. But instead, his behavior after the murder was odd. The killer used household cleaners and bleach to wash down the basement, attempting to destroy any DNA, blood pool tracking, or fingerprints he may have left behind.

The killer also didn’t flee right away but rather stayed and took a shower, used Al’s towels to dry off, and left them behind.

Stolen evidence:

The suspect, “Robert Cooper” stole Al’s blue-and-gray GMC pickup truck immediately after the murder to a nearby Wells Fargo and used Al’s ATM card. However, he only used it as temporary transportation.

Surveillance cameras photographed the suspect sitting behind the wheel of Al’s truck wearing a ski mask and gloves, withdrawing approximately $1,000 from Al’s account.

The killer then abandoned the vehicle on the street just a block and a half away from Al’s townhome.

Leftover Evidence: When investigators found the truck, they found the ATM receipts sitting on the front seat. The killer wore gloves and a ski mask while driving and handling the vehicle, so unfortunately police were unable to pull usable fingerprint evidence from the interior.

Closing thoughts & theories:

This is one of those cases that has really stuck with me. Not only because of the brutality, but eerie nature of it.

In my opinion, I feel like this “Robert Cooper” was most definitely foreign. The main reason why I feel this way is because:

1. He was said to have a Romanian accent
2. One of the torture methods he used on AL was called a falaka (foot whooping) which is closely tied to methods used by certain militant groups, such as Turkish Hezbollah, leading to theories of foreign military, intelligence, or systemic state torture.

It’s not everyday you hear of someone…getting their feet whipped. I feel it is possible this “Robert” was not American. Was Al targeted specifically? yes, but more so in an opportunistic way; Al lived alone, he was very friendly, trustworthy, and kind.

Cooper used this knowledge to his advantage more than likely. The fact that he used a fake name and fled back to Europe kinda tells me that this theory leans in that direction.

I know overseas they have entirely different customs then we do over here in the U.S.

And lastly, to Al Kite; I am so very sorry that this happened to you. I know that you are very dearly missed everyday and I hope justice finds you one day. Until then, may you rest in peace <3.

L.W.