North Salem High School grad charged with first-degree murder in Colorado

Garrett Littenberg, a North Salem High School Class of 2014 graduate, was charged this week with first-degree murder–deliberation with intent in connection with the fatal stabbing of his Boulder, Colorado roommate.

According to a press release from the Boulder police Department, officers responded to a report of a disturbance at a Boulder residence on Tuesday, August 29. When they arrived, they found an adult male suffering from stab wounds. The victim, identified as Kurt Smolker, 30, died at the scene. Littenberg and Smolker both lived at the home.

Yahoo! News reported that Littenberg’s family were on the phone with Smolker before he died. A family member said Smolker called them at 10:02 p.m. and said Littenberg was “not acting right.” The family member also told police that Littenberg was "screaming talking about Putin, rape, and complete gibberish."

According to an arrest affidavit, Littenberg’s family said he was taking medication for anxiety and psychosis. Littenberg has no criminal history in Colorado.

A Reddit user who said they attended North Salem High School with Littenberg said that Littenberg came from a “wonderful family” and that the Town of North Salem “has some of the most supportive community I’ve seen.”

As a high school student in North Salem, Littenberg excelled academically and athletically. He qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award, given to students who earned high scores on four or more Advanced Placement exams. Littenberg was also a three-year varsity lacrosse player for the Tigers. His senior year, LoHud named him a ‘marquee player.’

After graduating North Salem High School, Littenberg attended Wake Forest University, where he earned Dean’s List honors and was a goalie on the men’s lacrosse team. Littenberg graduated from Wake Forest in 2018, before moving to Colorado to pursue a law degree at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law.

Littenberg is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, September 5. Bond was set at $10 million. The case remains under investigation.