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CBI investigating two deaths in the Grass Mesa area

Husband and wife found with apparent gunshot wounds

GCSO PRESS RELEASE
July 14, 2025

On July 12, 2025, at approximately 6:39 p.m., Deputies responded to the “Grass Mesa” area, just south of Rifle, for a domestic violence incident. The domestic violence incident was between a husband and wife. It was determined there was probable cause to arrest the husband for misdemeanor violations, for Domestic Violence, for Harassment and for Protection Order Violation. He had fled the residence on foot prior to the arrival of the Deputies and could not be located. The deputies attempted to get his wife to leave the residence and go somewhere safe until they could locate and arrest her husband. However, she chose to stay at the residence. Deputies left and began the preparations necessary for an arrest warrant for the husband for Domestic Violence.

While deputies were preparing the warrant, an additional call came into the Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority (Dispatch) at around 10 p.m. The husband had returned to the residence and a verbal altercation was taking place. Information was provided that he was trying to locate a firearm inside of the house. The phone line disconnected with Dispatch. Deputies responded back to the residence and made exigent entry. They located both the husband and the wife, deceased, with apparent gunshot wounds. The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) requested CBI and CBI Crime Scene to respond and take lead for the death investigations, in the interest of removing any conflicts of interest in the previous domestic violence investigation.

A search warrant was applied for, granted and executed on the residence. Two firearms were recovered. A deceased female was located in the master bedroom and a deceased male was located in the recliner in the living room. The male’s gunshot wound and scene looked consistent with a self-inflicted wound. The incident appeared to be isolated so no public safety hazards existed. GCSO says there was a history of responding to previous domestic violence incidents between the two people involved and at that address.

The names of the two individuals as well as their address are being withheld at this time, pending a final examination by the coroner and an appropriate notification of next of kin.