DeAngelis believes many of the rumors were accepted because of a natural instinct to try to find reassuring answers. "Because then if [people] can believe that, they'll say we know why [Harris and Klebold] murdered at Columbine High School," he said. "And, boy, if we can pinpoint that, then it's not going to happen again. If they can say, well, get rid of all athletics, or the jocks need to go, or we need to get rid of this and that, then therefore there's not going to be a murder at our school."

The department met secretly with several stakeholders in the investigation last summer, to privately squelch many of the rumors. Kiekbusch and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dwayne Fuselier briefed the entire Columbine faculty and staff on the investigation Aug. 12, in a secret presentation just four days before students symbolically "took back the school."

Those who attended said the most poignant moment came when officials projected a slide from Harris' texts that read: "Don't blame the school. Don't fucking put cops all over the place. Just because we went on a killing spree doesn't mean everybody else will. The admin. is doing a fine job as it is. I don't know who will be left after we kill, but dammit, don't change any policy just because of us. It would be stupid. If there's any way in this fucked up universe we can come back as ghosts, we'll haunt the life of any one who blames anyone besides me and V [for vodka, Klebold's nickname]."

At the time, both investigators and school officials said that many of the faculty and staff members were eagerly awaiting the report's release, expecting at least partial vindication for the school. Eight months later, they're still waiting.

Since last summer, investigators have promised to release all their major findings at one time, in the form of a comprehensive final report, initially slated for fall. But it hasn't happened quite that way. Last September, high-ranking individuals within the investigation leaked key findings to Salon News. That was followed by departmentally authorized disclosures to Time magazine and the Rocky Mountain News in December and the Denver Post in March.

In the wake of those stories, it remained a mystery whether the report would contain any major surprises. One area where many questions remain is the behavior of local SWAT teams on the day of the massacre. The SWAT teams came under blistering attack from some families and media commentators for taking several hours to reach the library. Sanders bled to death waiting for help to arrive, despite a message in the window warning of his predicament.

Several of the families cited SWAT response in their intent-to-sue notices last October. With few details available, the public discussion of that issue petered out inconclusively, with all indications that it will be hotly resumed once the facts are known. The department has consistently said its report would exonerate the SWAT teams.

Sheriff's spokesman Davis had said, "Everything in that report has been pretty much reported." However, doubts persisted, because the department has repeatedly avoided releasing significant information until it was leaked or its hand was forced. It did not even disclose the existence of Harris and Klebold's infamous home videos, for instance, until a few days before lead investigator Kate Battan was forced to read a short excerpt at the sentencing hearing for gun seller Mark Manes.

The week leading up to Thursday's choreographed anniversary memorials was billed as a solemn occasion, and one of the last predictable media events in the ongoing Columbine saga. But the lawsuit-filing deadline and the unexpected judicial decision to let the families see the draft report have shifted the focus back onto the crime and the legal fallout.

Walter Gerash, the lawyer who on Wednesday filed charges on behalf of the family of Sean Graves, who was severely injured, predicted the lawsuits would drag on for five to 10 years. He described a "very painful" future of finger-pointing, recriminations and nasty depositions.

Thursday's filing deadline applies only to suits against the sheriff's department, with another year to level charges against all other parties. Gerash predicted numerous suits would be added naming gun manufacturers, the school district and possibly the killers' families.

Both county and federal suits were filed Wednesday. The county suits cap awards at $150,000 per family, but federal claims are unlimited. Gerash predicted the various defense teams would eventually spend about $500,000 preparing their cases.

Gerash had championed a plan to avoid all lawsuits by setting up a $50 million relief government fund, but was turned down by Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, state Attorney General Ken Salazar and, finally, the White House on April 7.

Recent Stories