Steven Epstein’s new book is a compelling, detailed account of an infamous crime

Book review by Jeff Francis

Many Coloradans of a certain age can recall the news that came down June 16, 1991: An unknown assailant had staged an early-morning robbery of the United Bank Tower in Denver. The fact that four guards were shot dead, combined with the holiday, gave the event its lurid moniker: the Father’s Day Bank Massacre.

The more details of the heist that trickled out, the more mind-blowing the crime seemed. The unknown robber had breached secure checkpoints in the building and moved among its labyrinthian floorplan with curious efficiency. He also held several tellers at bay and dispatched the guards with little hesitation. Among news junkies, there seemed to be a consensus: simply put, it all seemed like something out of a movie … and there were more cinematic twists yet to come.

Thirty-four years on, the Father’s Day Bank Massacre might have remained forgotten trivia if not for Steven B. Epstein, the true-crime author of such titles as “Murder on Birchleaf Drive,” “Evil at Lake Seminole,” and “Extreme Punishment.” Now, thanks to Epstein, the robbery is on lips and minds again with the release of “Deadly Heist: The True Story of the Mile High Bank Massacre.”

Although Epstein, an attorney, has put immense work and research into “Deadly Heist,” the story kind of writes itself. On the night of July 4, Denver police staged their own brazen coup, arresting one James King in the front yard of his Golden home, as fireworks-watching neighbors gawked. A screenwriter couldn’t have done better: King was not only a former Denver policeman, but also a recent guard at United Bank who often complained of lax security.

What’s more, all of these revelations came before what some saw as the most compelling part of the saga: a nationally viewed trial from which King ultimately walked.

“Deadly Heist” is an engaging book about a mostly forgotten event, and Epstein a worthy chronicler of its intricacies. As evidenced by his former books, he also knows how to put eyeballs on pages, even if it means veering into the pulpy.

Of course, as an attorney, Epstein also homes in on the minutiae of the trial, often mixing lawyer-speak with a penchant for cheesiness. At one point Epstein describes King’s implacability on the stand thusly: “For his part, though … the defendant didn’t appear the slightest bit rattled – cool as a glass of lemonade on a steamy summer afternoon.”

Squabbles aside, though, “Deadly Heist” is an honorable documentation of what happened that day, 34 years ago. For his part, King died in 2013, dogged for the rest of his life by looks and whispers of, ‘There’s the man who got away with murder.’ One of the biggest takeaways from reading “Deadly Heist” will be deciding whether you agree.