True Crime Colorado: Positive ID Made For Body of Missing Teen

After searching for answers for almost ten years, the body of a Colorado teen has been found and positively identified.

According to a press release from the El Paso County Sheriff's office, a positive identification has been made in the case of the missing 19-year-old, Kara Nichols.

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Colorado Teen Goes Missing In 2012

October 9, 2012 was the last time that Kara Nichols was ever seen alive by friends and family. The teen had aspirations of becoming a model and was working as a private escort according to KOAA.

Nichols had posted advertisements of her services online and on that day was in communication with a man named Joel Hollendorfer.

Roommates of Nichols believed that she had traveled to Denver for a modeling assignment, but police believe that in reality, she was heading to see Hollendorfer.

On October 14, 2012, Paul Nichols, Kara's father, reported her missing to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

Body of Missing Colorado Teen Discovered

Despite the diligent efforts of El Paso County's Sherrif's office, years passed, with no sign of Kara.

Law enforcement interviewed multiple potential suspects, including Joel Hollendorfer, but unfortunately, the case remained unsolved.

That is, until February 7, when authorities uncovered the remains of Kara Nichols at the home of Joel Hollendorfer's parents.

Colorado Police Arrest Suspect for Murder of Kara Nichols

Hollendorfer had long been a suspect in the disappearance of Kara Nichols, but police lacked the hard evidence they needed to arrest him.

In mid-January of 2022, Kara's cold case came upon review, and Hollendorfer's ex-wife filled in critical information about Kara's death.

Hollendorfer's ex-wife claimed that Joel admitted to "accidentally strangling an escort to death" and then burying her body in a shallow horse grave at his parent's farm.

On February 7, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the property and discovered female human remains. The next day, the El Paso County Coroner's Office tentatively identified the remains as Kara Nichols.

Joel Hollendorfer was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Jail on charges of 2nd Degree Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence.

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