STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – A man and two children were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in unincorporated Routt County, located south of Steamboat Springs. The Routt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare check and discovered the bodies of James “Jake” Hill, 45, as well as a seven-year-old child and a three-year-old child, a news release from the sheriff’s office disclosed.
The deaths are being investigated as a murder-suicide, and authorities have assured the public that there is no danger to the community. The identities of the children and their relationship to the man have not been publicly disclosed.
This tragedy has left the community in shock as investigators work to understand the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The Sheriff’s Office has requested anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.
Incidents like this leave a lasting impact on small communities such as Phippsburg, where the tragedy took place. The loss of lives, especially those of children, is devastating, and the community is mourning this heartbreaking loss.
As the investigation continues, authorities will be working diligently to piece together the events leading up to this tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims as they navigate through this difficult time.
This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Routt County Sheriff’s Office. No further details have been released at this time.