A 52-year-old man from Colorado is facing accusations of murdering his estranged wife, allegedly shooting her in the head and then attempting to disguise the act as a suicide.

Authorities have apprehended Ronald Elton Lowry, charging him with first-degree murder, stalking, and evidence tampering in connection with the 2023 death of Richelle Lowry, according to official reports.

The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office released information stating that on October 26, 2023, deputies from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check request at Richelle Lowry’s residence in Bennett, Colorado, located roughly 30 miles from Denver. The request came after she failed to appear at work and could not be contacted.

When deputies arrived and received no response upon knocking, they entered the home by force, discovering Richelle Lowry deceased with a gunshot wound to the head. They also found her cellphone submerged in water.

Initially, questions arose about whether the death was a suicide, but a detailed investigation, including forensic analysis and digital evidence review, ultimately classified it as a homicide, as stated in the release.

District Attorney Amy Padden expressed the significance of the indictment, saying, “The return of this indictment marks an important step in the pursuit of justice for Richelle Lowry.” She emphasized her office’s dedication to ensuring individuals face consequences when evidence warrants criminal charges.

A probable cause affidavit obtained by Denver NBC affiliate KUSA provided additional details about Richelle Lowry’s death.

In interviews with witnesses, investigators reportedly learned Ronald Lowry was a jealous man who harbored a great deal of hatred toward his estranged wife and the new man with whom she was romantically involved.

He allegedly stalked Richelle Lowry and recorded her and the new man together and was allegedly caught on surveillance footage snooping in the area of her home shortly before her death, including two days before her death, when her security cameras were manually shut down.

If his wife’s death were ruled a suicide, Ronald Lowry reportedly stood to gain more than $1.3 million in life insurance proceeds.

Additionally, Richelle Lowry explicitly told a friend that she would never even consider ending her own life.

“[Richelle Lowry said] that if anything happened to her, Ronald [Lowry] would be responsible,” court documents say. “Richelle was ‘very adamant’ that she would not kill herself.”

Richelle Lowry’s family similarly refused to believe her death was a suicide, emphasizing that she was just a few days away from finalizing her divorce with Ronald Lowry.

“She was afraid of him, and she told everyone that,” Richelle Lowry’s brother, Dave Norman, told KUSA. “She said, ‘If anything happens to me, look to him.’”

Norman’s wife, Erika, echoed that sentiment.

“She was ready for her next chapter of life. The divorce proceedings were almost finalized within, like, a matter of days,” she told the station.

Ronald Lowry was booked into the Morgan County Jail Friday.

“This case is the result of extraordinary dedication and perseverance by the investigators with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office,” Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley said in a statement. “They left no stone unturned in their pursuit of the truth, carefully examining every piece of forensic, digital, and testimonial evidence over the course of this investigation. Their commitment to seeking answers and refusing to give up has been instrumental in bringing this case forward.”