Steamboat Pilot & Today

The Colorado State Patrol's investigation into the death of 13-year-old skier Ashley Stamp's has been concluded and was turned over to the Eagle County District Attorney's Office early this week.

Mark Hurlbert, district attorney for the Fifth Judicial District, will make the final decision about whether further investigation is necessary and whether charges could be filed.

Stamp, a star member of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, died Dec. 19 in a skiing accident at Vail Ski Resort. She was taking a practice run down the Gold Peak ski course, preparing for a race, when she collided with a snowmobile coming uphill.

Vail Ski Resort employee Mark Chard, 27, of Vail, was driving the resort snowmobile. Chard and snowmobile passenger Thomas Conville, also a Vail Ski Resort employee, were working on the race crew.

Hurlbert was out of the office until today, but his secretary, Arleen Sandberg, said it could take some time before a decision about charges is made.

Hurlbert is returning from vacation, and probably will let a few other attorneys look at the investigation before making a decision, Sandberg said.

Colorado State Patrol Cpt. Barry Bratt said earlier this week that the district attorney would decide whether the investigation could be released to the public and that the Colorado State Patrol could not release the investigation.

Sandberg said the decision about releasing the investigation was up to Hurlbert, but that typically, the District Attorney's Office does not release any details while a case is under investigation or pending.

If the decision is made not to file charges, the documents could be released soon. However, if charges are filed, it could be a couple of years before the information is released, she said.

In mid-January, Hurlbert said he originally expected to have the investigation report by Jan. 1, and that he hoped to decide about filing charges soon after receiving the report.

Hurlbert also said he would not speculate about what charges, if any, could be filed in this case.