Joe Arridy

Biography

Joe Arridy was born in Cañon City in 1915 and, despite a gentle demeanor and quick willingness to help neighbors, he lived with an intellectual disability that made many parts of life a struggle. Those who knew him recall a man who was fond of whistling, who loved cats, and who found comfort in small acts of kindness around his hometown.

When tragedy struck and he was swept up in a criminal investigation, the courts failed to recognize his vulnerability and, despite pleas for mercy from those who knew his true nature, he was executed in 1939; the sadness of his death inspired campaigns for fairness in the justice system and, in later years, official declarations of innocence that now stand as part of his enduring remembrance.