LAKEWOOD, Colo. Friends say a woman found strangled in her Green Mountain home on Tuesday was a nurse at St. Anthony Hospital and was the mother of an 8-year-old boy.
“I’m devastated, totally devastated,” said Traci Buntenbah.
Buntenbah said that Hilary Engel was a wonderful friend and “the most giving person” she had ever met.
“She rode toy rides for kids. She adopted families at Christmas. She’s just the type of person who was always looking for ways to help people and help strangers,” Buntenbah said.
The two mothers met four years ago at Rooney Ranch Elementary School in the Green Mountain Ward, where their sons attend school.
“We had no choice but to be friends,” she said, “because the boys always wanted to play together.”
Buntenbah said that Engel was very acceptable.
“My kids are hyper,” she said. ‘It makes me a little nervous. She always told me she would never judge me no matter what happened. ‘
Police said they were called to a house on S. Coors Circle on Dec. 29 on the basis of a report of missing persons.
When friends arrived, they reported finding a grown woman in the house.
Police said it appears that Engel died of strangulation.
Engel’s friend, Karl Aaron Bemish, 51, was arrested the next day at a hotel in Trinidad.
He is being held on suspicion of first degree murder.
“That really bothers me,” said Buntenbah. ‘I knew him … he was close to my child. He had (been) at my place. It’s terrible.’
She told Denver7 that she thought Bemish was “a bit shady, but not bad”.
Now her thoughts are on Engel’s 8-year-old son.
“I know he’s okay. I don’t need to see him yet, but I know he’s okay. He’s with family,” she said
Buntenbah said she wants others to know that Angel was not just any victim.
“She was a great mother and a nurse,” she said. “She saved people’s lives and she didn’t deserve it at all.”
Buntenbah told Denver7 that she received a text message from Engel on Monday.
“She was just checking in,” said Buntenbah. She said she wanted to hang out. I happened to tell her that I loved her. I’m grateful I did. ‘
Denver7 reached out to Centura-St. Anthony for comment.
The hospital issued this statement:
“We offer our condolences to the loved ones of Hilary Engel, who worked as a nurse at Centura-St. Anthony Hospital. Our condolences go out to her family and friends, and all caregivers who mourn this painful loss.