1997 Directed Report
Timeline of Randy Brown's eventual claim of authorship
For many years, Randy Brown denied making the 1997 report to police until one day, he started claiming he was the anonymous "concerned citizen" who reported Eric after his sons, Brooks and Aaron, told him about Eric's website. However, he didn't come to this conclusion on his own. Brown said the police had to come to his house and show him a paper trail to convince him, and even then he still said he doesn't remember reporting Eric in 1997. His story eventually changed and now he says he remembers making the report.
It should be noted that both Brooks and Aaron say they never knew about Eric's website until 1998.
From Brooks' book No Easy Answers:
"In march of 1998 I was walking to class when Dylan approached me with a small piece of paper. On it was written the address for a Web site. 'I think you should take a look at this tonight,' Dylan said. I shrugged. 'Okay. Anything special?' I figured at the time that it was the address for some new program Dylan had uncovered. 'It's Eric's Web site,' he said. 'You need to see it. And you can't tell Eric I gave it to you.'
Also note that Brooks is claiming Dylan handed him the scrap of paper that was later analyzed professionally and found to have been written by Brooks and Aaron, which was also confirmed by their father, Randy.
It appears that the police forcibly convinced the Browns to start taking ownership for this report, which led to Randy Brown changing his story out of nowhere and magically remembering he made that report, and Brooks fabricated a story about Dylan giving him Eric's website address.
The facts don't match the newer version of the stories the Browns tell about this 1997 report.
When the directed report was revealed on October 28, 2003, Brown was just as surprised and disappointed as everyone else that Eric had been reported that early and nothing was done.
As of February 18, 2004, Brown was eagerly awaiting the meeting where police would reveal the name of the person who reported Eric in 1997 report; he still had no idea who reported Eric.
By August 8, 2005, Brown was still referencing the 1997 report as anonymous.
By January 10, 2006, Brown was confidently stating he was the person who reported Eric's website to the police in 1997.
By 2020, Brown began asserting that not only did he report Eric in 1997, but the police hid that and lied by stating it was an anonymous report. If that were true, why would he not take credit immediately? He was aggressively vocal about reporting Eric in 1998 despite police claiming they had no such report. Surely he would have taken credit for the 1997 report with equal enthusiasm? Instead, he denied making the report over and over. When did Brown become convinced he did make the 1997 report? Did someone "convince him" forcibly?
By 2021, Brown claimed he reported Eric in 1997 by calling the police. However, the deputy who created the memo was working the security post at Southwest Plaza Mall the day he was contacted by the "concerned citizen" and the report was made in person by someone at the mall.
Below is a detailed timeline of this progression.
October 29, 2003
The existence of the directed report is revealed
On October 29, 2003, Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink disclosed to a room full of Columbine parents and reporters that they had recently found an internal memo (a "directed report") regarding an anonymous tip given to police about Eric Harris' website. The original directed report can be seen here:
Here is a text version of this directed report:
Directed Report
Date This Report: 08/07/1997
To: Inv. Hicks
From: M. Burgess
Directed Report
On 08/07/1997 I was contacted by a concerned citizen reference Eric Harris, A 15 year old white male living in the 8200 block of S. Reed St. Eric Harris is the author of a web page, see attached copies printed from his web site. He also refers to two of his followers "Vodka", Dillon Klebold and "Kibbz", Zach Heckler. This web page refers to "missions" where possible criminal mischiefs have occurred.
Officer Signature: MG Burgess
Unit 143 Number 0319
Randy Brown reacts to the directed report's revelation
Randy Brown was present at the meeting that disclosed the existence of this directed report. At this time, he didn't take credit for filing this report. He responded to this revelation like everyone else - seeing it as yet another missed opportunity.
Brown told the Denver Post, "I think everyone in the room cried," Randy Brown said. "Because - again - this is a missed opportunity."
Source: The Denver Post. October 30, 2003
'97 report of Harris' website unheeded
Columbine finding frustrates sheriff
February 25, 2004
A 4-month investigation claims the Browns made the 1997 report
The Colorado state Attorney General's office conducted an investigation into the 1997 directed report and concluded that it was made by the Brown family. The Browns didn't remember making this report at all, and everyone was shocked they didn't remember since they had been on top of every detail.
Randy and Judy denied making the 1997 report
From the Denver Post:
"The source of that report: Columbine parents Randy and Judy Brown, who had said they had no memory of making it.
Investigators from the Colorado attorney general's office reached that conclusion after a four-month probe. They have informed the Browns about the finding."
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"But Bruce Beck, stepfather of slain student Lauren Townsend, said the Browns forgot they had made an earlier report on Aug. 7, 1997. "They completely forgot they ever made the complaint," he said.
Beck and his wife, Dawn Anna, Lauren's mother, were told of the discovery by the Browns. Beck said that the Browns were convinced, based on the investigative work done, that they made the Aug. 7, 1997, report.
'The investigators came to their house and basically showed them the trail of how they knew it was them,' Beck said.
Beck said he was surprised that the Browns didn't recall making the earlier report. 'They have been so aware, on top of everything, that I didn't believe it at first,' he said."
Source: The Denver Post. February 25, 2004
'97 Columbine report traced
Trail leads to Browns; friend says it might have prevented killings