On Friday, investigators arrested Ronald Elton Lowry after a fresh forensic review and digital evidence check tied him to the 2023 death of his estranged wife, Richelle Lowry, in Bennett. He now faces a slate of felony charges, including first-degree murder and related violent-crime counts.
How She Was Found
In October 2023, a welfare check sent members of the Bennett Fire Department to Richelle Lowry’s home after she could not be reached. Firefighters forced their way inside, where deputies discovered her body on the bathroom floor with a single gunshot wound to the head and a handgun tucked beneath her shoulder.
Initial autopsy findings noted suspicious bruising and a large hematoma. After a later review, a doctor reclassified the death as a homicide and reissued the death certificate, according to CBS News.
Forensics, Phone Records And Surveillance
Investigators say forensic swabs taken from the scene revealed male DNA at two locations, although a forensic scientist described the samples as low quality. Agents also recovered deleted video from Lowry’s phone that showed Richelle with a new boyfriend.
Neighbors told investigators that Richelle “feared for her life.” Surveillance footage captured a person in dark clothing near her house two days before she was found. Analysts in 2024 concluded the recording system would have needed to be stopped by a person to create an unexplained gap in the footage.
AT&T records also indicated Lowry’s phone was not connected to the network at the time the person was seen near the home, according to court documents cited by CBS News.
Indictment, Alleged Motive And Charges
An Arapahoe County grand jury returned an indictment charging Ronald Elton Lowry with first-degree murder, two counts of stalking, tampering with physical evidence, and violent-crime counts that prosecutors have designated as domestic violence, according to Denver7.
Investigators say Lowry would have stood to gain more than 1.3 million dollars if Richelle’s death had been ruled a suicide. Because he is now a suspect, he was removed as a beneficiary and disinherited. Records show he was booked into the Morgan County Jail.
What Comes Next
Lowry is presumed innocent under the law and will be prosecuted in the 18th Judicial District. Court dates and specific details about an arraignment have not yet been released.
Prosecutors say the case moved forward after new forensic testing and a deeper digital review that, in their view, strengthened the connection between Lowry and the scene.
