Husband Accused Of Killing His Wife And Then Staging Her Death To Look Like A Suicide

A Colorado man has been indicted connected murder and related charges successful relationship pinch nan death of his estranged wife, much than 2 years aft her assemblage was recovered successful what authorities initially believed was a suicide.

Ronald Lowry, 52, was charged pinch first-degree execution and aggregate different offenses aft investigators wished that his estranged wife, Richelle “Chelle” Lowry, 42, did not return her ain life, nan 18th District Attorney’s agency announced Friday. Ronald Lowry was booked into nan Morgan County Jail without bond.

On October 26, 2023, deputies from nan Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office conducted a use cheque astatine Richelle Lowry’s Bennett location aft she missed activity and could not beryllium reached. When authorities forced entry, they recovered her dormant from a azygous gunshot to nan head, pinch her telephone submerged successful water. Her decease occurred conscionable days earlier she was group to finalize her divorce from Lowry.

At nan time, officials could not find nan origin of death, and early reports treated it arsenic a imaginable suicide.

An autopsy later revealed that Richelle Lowry died from a close-range gunshot coiled to nan head, CBS Colorado reports. Investigators besides noted “suspicious” bruising connected her assemblage and a ample hematoma connected her forehead, suggesting anterior trauma. While nan first autopsy ruled her decease a homicide, nan last study listed nan origin arsenic “undetermined.”

Following a elaborate reappraisal of forensic and integer evidence, nan aesculapian examiner officially ruled nan decease a homicide and reissued her decease certificate. Forensic testing included DNA swabs taken aft her death, which detected antheral DNA successful 2 locations. However, nan samples were excessively debased value to nexus them to a circumstantial person, nan outlet reports.

Investigators besides learned that Richelle Lowry had expressed fearfulness for her life to a neighbor, reporting threats from friends of her ex-husband. Others adjacent to her later confirmed that she had warned them of imaginable danger, per CBS Colorado.

Her parents told constabulary that Ronald Lowry contacted them soon aft her death, claiming she had died by suicide. They said Richelle Lowry had a history of slump and had grown progressively paranoid during nan divorcement process, but family and friends did not judge she was suicidal, according to nan outlet.

Court documents bespeak that Richelle Lowery confided successful aggregate group that she had overheard Ronald Lowry and his relative discussing her death, making her fearfulness that her ex-husband mightiness harm her. She besides reported receiving threats from his friends.

A financial reappraisal successful November 2025 revealed that Ronald Lowry would person inherited $1,1334,504 if Richelle Lowry’s decease had been classified arsenic a suicide, per CBS Colorado. Because he remains a suspect, authorities disinherited him from her estate.

Authorities allege that Ronald Lowry developed jealousy and an obsession aft nan mates separated. Court records cited by rule enforcement show he monitored Richelle Lowry’s activities, including signaling her pinch a caller fellow astatine a play people earlier her death, according to records reviewed by 9News.

Friends told investigators that Richelle Lowry had many times insisted she would ne'er return her ain life and warned that if thing happened to her, her estranged hubby would beryllium responsible.

“[If] thing happened to her, Ronald would beryllium responsible. Richelle was very adamant that she would not termination herself," tribunal records state, according to KUSA.

In summation to murder, Ronald Lowry faces aggregate different charges, including 2 counts of stalking, tampering pinch evidence, and 2 violent-crime counts — 1 for causing superior bodily harm aliases decease and different for utilizing a deadly weapon.

Prosecutors successful nan 18th Judicial District praised nan exhaustive investigation that led to nan indictment, calling it nan consequence of observant forensic activity and persistence by rule enforcement.

"The return of this indictment marks an important measurement successful nan pursuit of justness for Richelle Lowry," 18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden said successful Friday’s news release. "My agency remains committed to holding individuals accountable erstwhile that grounds supports criminal charges."

“They near nary chromatic unturned successful their pursuit of nan truth, cautiously examining each portion of forensic, digital, and testimonial grounds complete nan people of this investigation. Their committedness to seeking answers and refusing to springiness up has been instrumental successful bringing this lawsuit forward,” Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley added.

If you are based successful nan USA, and you aliases personification you cognize needs intelligence wellness assistance correct now, telephone aliases matter 988, aliases sojourn 988lifeline.org to entree online chat from nan 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is simply a free, confidential situation hotline that is disposable to everyone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress aliases are struggling to cope, you tin speak to nan Samaritans, successful confidence, connected 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, aliases sojourn nan Samaritans website to find specifications of your nearest branch.

If you are successful different country, you tin spell to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline adjacent you.