GOLDEN, Colo. (June 3, 2026) – The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office has charged Gretchen Leanne Ryan with one count of Murder in the Second Degree in connection with the alcohol-related death of her sixteen-year-old daughter in March 2026.
On March 9, 2026, Arvada Fire and Arvada Police responded to a residence in the 6400 block of West 85th Avenue after receiving a report of an unresponsive juvenile female. The sixteen-year-old was pronounced deceased at the scene. A subsequent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death led to the filing of the current charge.
Preliminary autopsy findings revealed the victim had an abnormally fatty liver for someone of her age, which medical professionals believed could indicate extensive and prolonged alcohol consumption.
A months-long investigation by detectives with the Arvada Police Department included forensic examinations of cellular devices belonging to Ryan and the victim. Investigators say the digital evidence showed that Ryan and the victim frequently consumed alcohol and marijuana together and, beginning in September 2025, discussed the consumption and procurement of alcohol on an almost daily basis. According to investigators, the communications indicate Ryan arranged regular alcohol deliveries to the home and took steps to conceal the victim’s alcohol use from her father, who primarily resided in the basement of the home.
According to investigators, the victim’s documented communication with Ryan shows that in the months leading up to her death she was suffering from significant physical health concerns, due to the alcohol Ryan was allegedly providing her. The messages describe episodes of vomiting blood, difficulty eating, difficulty walking, and the use of diapers due to symptoms associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
Investigators also say the communications show the victim repeatedly expressed fears that she was going to die and sought help from Ryan.
Messages exchanged the night before the victim’s death indicate she continued communicating with Ryan about being sick. The victim’s last outgoing communication was sent to Ryan at 10:07 P.M. on March 8th from the victim’s iPad located near her body in the bathroom. Records indicate that subsequent messages sent from Ryan’s device went unanswered. 911 was not called until around 8:15 A.M. the following morning.
Investigators also recovered physical evidence indicating the victim had been supplied with alcohol for a prolonged period. During a search of the victim’s bedroom, detectives located 173 empty alcohol bottles concealed under the bed and in the closet, including various brands and sizes of vodka and other hard liquor.
In the fall of April 2025, the victim was unenrolled from her public high school to attend online school. At the time of her death, the victim had completed only one online semester of ninth grade and had not participated in activities outside the home for several months.
In an autopsy report issued April 4, 2026, Jefferson County Forensic Pathologist Dr. Dawn Holmes determined the victim’s cause of death was aspiration pneumonia related to chronic alcohol use. The manner of death was classified as natural due to the volitional component of the alcohol consumption. Dr. Holmes noted that chronic alcohol use can increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia by suppressing gag and cough reflexes, reducing salivary gland function, and impairing immune system function, and concluded the victim died during a terminal episode of acute aspiration pneumonia.
On May 15, 2026, the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office filed one count of Murder in the Second Degree – knowingly causing death, and a warrant was issued for Ryan’s arrest. Arvada Police subsequently arrested Ryan at her residence. She was booked into the Jefferson County Jail and is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
COUNT 1: MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE, C.R.S. 18-3-103(1)(a) (F2)
Ryan is next due in court on June 17th at 8:00 A.M. for a preliminary hearing.
The filing of criminal charges is a formal accusation that a defendant committed a crime under Colorado law. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.