A La Plata County man shot and killed his girlfriend, then shot himself, at a home east of Oxford on Sunday, according to the county coroner.
Edward Ogden, 57, shot Gloria Casias, 63, multiple times around 4:30 a.m. Sunday then shot himself, Coroner Jann Smith said.
The Durango Police Department and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deployed SWAT teams to assist the Southern Ute Police Department after gunshots were reported inside the residence.
Law enforcement made attempts to contact people inside the home and used a tactical robot to search the residence before entering.
A handgun was found at the scene, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chris Burke said. The Sheriff’s Office suspects domestic violence may have been the motive behind the killing.
The Sheriff’s Office talked with Ogden and Casias the evening before, Burke said. Ogden told deputies Casias’ son-in-law assaulted him, but after an investigation, the Sheriff’s Office did not have enough evidence to charge anyone with a crime, Burke said.
Ogden told deputies he would stay the night in Mancos and left in that direction after speaking with them, Burke said.
bhauff@durangoherald.com
Suicide resources
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering killing himself can be found from these sources:
Axis Health System:
24-hour hotline at 247-5245.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
(800) 273-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 741741.
RED Nacional de PrevencióN Del Suicidio:
(888) 628-9454.
National Crisis text Hotline:
741741
Fort Lewis College Counseling Center:
247-7212.
Boys Town Hotline:
(800) 448-3000.
Safe2Tell Colorado:
(877) 542-7233 or online at
.
Colorado Crisis Support Line:
(844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 or online at
www.coloradocrisisservices.org
to access a live chat available in 17 languages. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths about any crisis, 24 hours a day.
Trevor Project:
(866) 488-7386. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth via online chat, text or phone.
Second Wind Fund:
(720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline, but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental-health professional.
Survivors Support GrouP:
Heartbeat of Durango meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the Grief Center, 2243 Main Ave., second floor. Contact Janna for information at 749-1673.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
Colorado chapter information available at
https://afsp.org/chapter/afsp-colorado/
For Men:
A website for adult men contemplating suicide, who often are unwilling to seek help, is available at
.
