Coroner Says 3 Found In Rye House Fire Were Shot To Death
PUEBLO, Colo. (AP/CBS4) — Authorities are looking for a man suspected of shooting three people to death and then lighting the home they were in on fire.
The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office said Saturday that 59-year-old handyman Harry Mapps is the primary suspect in the deaths of 51-year-old Reginald Tuttle, 55-year-old Kim Tuttle and their daughter, 33-year-old Dawn Roderick.
Firefighters called to the home in the southern Colorado town of Rye on Wednesday morning found the three dead with apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigators say Mapps cashed checks bearing the name of one of the victims in Pueblo and La Junta on the day of the fire. A nationwide warrant seeks his arrest for identity theft, forgery and theft above $5,000.
Investigators have determined that Mapps had lived in the home, and the fire was intentionally set.
Sheriff Kurt Taylor finds determination in his pain, trying to track down Mapps.
"Being from Rye myself, I knew two of the victims very well as a kid growing up," Taylor said. "Bulletins have been sent out to all local, state and federal agencies."
Mapps was a driver for a company managed by Reginald Tuttle.
"I know there was some issues with Mr. Mapps living there. I don't know what those issues were, but I knew he was going to be asked to move out," Taylor said.
Roderick leaves behind three small children.
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