The leaders of a task force that's been fighting for records in the Columbine case dropped plans to disband the group Wednesday in the face of pressure from the parents of several victims.

The decision by Attorney General Ken Salazar and Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas was hailed by those parents, who made it clear in a closed-door meeting they want the task force to continue digging for documents.

"It's what we wanted," said Joe Kechter, whose son, Matt, was killed in the school library.

He was among a group of parents who met with Salazar and Thomas before what was expected to be the last meeting of the Columbine Records Review Task Force.

Thomas said he came away believing the task force still has work to do. "I think, especially after the discussions of this morning, there is some unfinished business," Thomas said.

Since its inception in early 2002, the task force's work had led to the release of roughly 15,000 pages of documents in the April 20, 1999, Columbine tragedy, the worst school shooting in U.S. history. That day, seniors Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold stormed their school, murdering a dozen fellow students and a teacher and wounding more than 20 others.

Despite the number of documents the task force has brought to light, some papers remain sealed.

For example, the task force last year sought to review the records held by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office so a decision could be made about whether the group should push for the release of additional documents. But then-Sheriff John Stone refused to grant the group access to the documents.

Stone's term ended in January, and the new sheriff, Russ Cook, said he would allow Salazar and members of his staff to go through the documents and other records in his office.

Consequently, Salazar had considered disbanding the task force and continuing the work with the sheriff's office himself.

Randy Brown, a member of the task force, expressed frustration, pointing to lingering questions he hopes the group could still help answer.

And then, Wednesday morning, Salazar, Thomas and some members of their staffs met with Kechter and the parents of Cassie Bernall, Lauren Townsend and Daniel Rohrbough, all of whom were killed at Columbine.

They convinced Salazar and Thomas the task force still has value, arguing that while it doesn't have a lot of legal authority it does have moral authority to continue the work of making public documents that will help settle lingering questions.

Salazar said after the meeting the wishes of the families were a "major factor" in the decision to keep the task force alive.

"They were very complimentary about the task force, and the success it had so far," he said.

Kechter said he believes the task force is the only hope of families who still wonder about some aspects of the Columbine tragedy.

"This is the only group that's gotten any information for us," he said.

And Brian Rohrbough, whose son was killed at the school, said he is hopeful Cook's cooperation with Salazar could lead to the release of more documents in the near future.

"When all the records that can appropriately be released have been released, then it's time to end the task force," Rohrbough said.

vaughank@RockyMountainNews.com or (303) 892-5019