[CO] Deputy Hargrove's wife Julia died of blunt force trauma

...Julia Hargrove "died of bleeding on the brain brought on by a blunt-force injury." Her husband, 32-year-old Michael Hargrove, told investigators he and his wife had been arguing on the night of January 14th and went to bed in separate rooms...

Death of deputy's wife still unresolved
The Pueblo West View
May 07, 2008
The wife of a sheriff's deputy who mysteriously died in January had alcohol in her blood system, according to toxicology results. Julia Hargrove of Pueblo West had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18, Pueblo County Coroner James Kramer said last week... The 10th Judicial District Critical Incident Team - a group of investigators from every law enforcement agency in Pueblo County - completed its investigation and forwarded it to the District Attorney's office for final review last week. District Attorney Bill Thiebaut said that prosecutors will review the findings to see whether criminal charges are warranted and then issue a public report... [Full article here]

Excerpts from earlier news:

CBI investigators exit a Pueblo West house where they were investigating the unexpected death of a sheriff deputy's wife early Tuesday.
By Nick Bonham
The Pueblo Chieftain
January 16, 2008
The wife of a Pueblo County sheriff's deputy died unexpectedly in their Pueblo West home early Tuesday. The death has been labeled suspicious and is being investigated by the 10th Judicial District's Critical Incident Team. The team consists of investigators from every law enforcement agency in Pueblo County and is charged with investigating officer-involved killings, deaths and serious auto accidents. Julia Hargrove, 30, was pronounced dead after rescue crews were called at 5:51 a.m. to the family's home on Sterling Place, according to Sheriff Kirk Taylor. Her husband, deputy Michael Hargrove, has been placed on paid administrative leave... "We have found no signs of foul play by our employee," Taylor said. "The big catalyst is going to be results of an autopsy." Pueblo County Coroner James Kramer said an autopsy could be scheduled for today. Kramer said the death is labeled suspicious because "she was a young person with an unexpected death, and she does not have any significant obvious trauma that contributed to her death. It does not appear to be suicide"... The couple's children, ages 6 and 10, also were home at the time of the death and were interviewed. Detectives from the sheriff's and police department, district attorney investigators and Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents remained on the scene late into the afternoon... When asked about investigating one of his deputies, Taylor said: "We understand the nature of our jobs, and we're committed to doing what's right, with thoroughness and objectivity. That's where the critical incident team comes into play. You follow the evidence regardless of (people's) position in the community."

Police, CBI investigate death of Pueblo West woman
Pueblo West View
By ANTHONY A. MESTAS
Special to The View
January 17, 2008
... Sheriff Kirk Taylor said, as of Tuesday, there was nothing indicating foul play in the death of Julia Hargrove, 30. "We have come across no indications with four different agencies of any suspected foul play in this matter. We are taking it wherever the evidence leads us. We need to let science do its job"... [Pueblo County Coroner James] Kramer said the death was being treated as suspicious because it was unexpected... "We have to process the entire scene just as we would if it were a homicide. We are not in any way indicating that's what it is, but we have to work with that in mind because we very seldom have a second chance to go back and get evidence"... A gray Toyota Camry parked in the couple's driveway was taken from the house to be processed by CBI...

Couple argued hours before woman's death
The Pueblo Chieftain
By Nick Bonham
The Pueblo Chieftain
January 17, 2008
Police reports shed some light on the events leading up to the unexpected death of the wife of a sheriff's deputy, but her exact cause of death won't be known until an autopsy is completed, which should be today... According to a report by Cody Wager, a detective with the Pueblo Police Department, the couple attended a Christmas party Monday night at Showtime Bar in the Midtown Shopping Center. Julia Hargrove was employed at the bar. The Hargroves were seen arguing at the party and Michael Hargrove left about 10 p.m. His wife remained at the party, drinking and dancing, the report said. Co-workers said she was emotional throughout the night. She was seen leaving with a sober male co-worker about 1:10 a.m. Tuesday, the report said. Michael Hargrove told Wager his wife returned home at either 2 or 3 a.m. The two argued and then went to sleep in separate bedrooms... Michael Hargrove awoke about 5:30 a.m. to go to work. He found his wife in his room, on the floor and unresponsive. He called 911, the report said, and tried to revive her to no avail...

Woman died of bleeding on the brain
The Pueblo Chieftain
By PATRICK MALONE
Friday January 18, 2008
An autopsy Thursday on the 30-year-old wife of a Pueblo County sheriff's deputy showed she died from bleeding on the brain... Investigators have termed Julia Hargrove's death “suspicious,” and Thursday's autopsy did nothing to change that ruling, according to Pueblo County Coroner James Kramer...

Probe into deputy wife's death in limbo
The Pueblo Chieftain
By Patrick Malone
February 09, 2008
The investigation into the mysterious death last month of a Pueblo County sheriff deputy's wife remains in limbo while investigators await toxicology results from her autopsy... Since his wife's death, Hargrove has been on paid administrative leave, according to Sheriff Kirk Taylor. “We have no indications of wrongdoing on (Hargrove's) part with respect to that night,” Taylor said. “When the science comes back, his status may change one way or the other. I'm not comfortable calling him a suspect at this time.”... Mrs. Hargrove's death is being investigated by the 10th Judicial District Critical Incident Team. The group's responsibility is to review serious incidents involving officers who work at local law enforcement agencies. Its aim is to generate an investigation independent of the specific agency that employs the officer who is involved. At the conclusion of the investigation, the district attorney's office will determine whether criminal charges are warranted and issue a public report. Hargrove's employment status is a decision left to the sheriff.

Morning Headlines for Wednesday, April 30th
KRDO.com
April 30, 2008
The Pueblo County coroner says the wife of a sheriff's deputy had a high blood-alcohol level when she died in January, but it was not a factor in her death. Coroner James Kramer told the "Pueblo Chieftain" 30-year-old Julia Hargrove "died of bleeding on the brain brought on by a blunt-force injury." Her husband, 32-year-old Michael Hargrove, told investigators he and his wife had been arguing on the night of January 14th and went to bed in separate rooms. Michael Hargrove says he awoke the next morning and found his wife collapsed on the floor. Kramer says Julia Hargrove's blood-alcohol level was point-one-eight, more than twice the legal limit for intoxication. Investigators completed their probe into the death and have forwarded their findings to the District Attorney's Office. DA Bill Thiebaut says prosecutors will review the case to determine if criminal charges are warranted. Michael Hargrove has been on paid administrative leave since the death.