A chilling murder in Colorado unveils a sinister web of deception and betrayal in the funeral industry.
Story Highlights
- The murder of Byron Griffy exposes financial crimes and conspiracies in the funeral industry.
- Key suspects include funeral home operators with access to Griffy’s financial assets.
- The investigation reveals a broader criminal network in the small town of Fowler, Colorado.
- The case remains officially unresolved, leaving questions of justice unanswered.
The Murder of Byron Griffy
On October 12, 2012, Byron Griffy, a 76-year-old mortician, was found murdered in his remote farmhouse in Fowler, Colorado. His body was discovered by family members Gina and Linette after they failed to reach him. Griffy had been shot execution-style, a shocking crime that sent ripples through the small community.
The investigation quickly turned to the funeral home operators, Anthony Wright and Charles Giebler, who had close professional ties to Griffy and access to his assets.
Authorities soon discovered that Wright and Giebler had been entrusted with Griffy’s valuable coin collection. The two became primary suspects after inconsistencies emerged in their statements, particularly concerning their claimed whereabouts and the vehicle used on the day of the murder.
Despite these red flags, the case remains unresolved, with Giebler’s death in January 2013 closing off potential prosecution against him.
Unraveling a Criminal Network
The documentary series “The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder” aired in 2025, shedding light on the murky underworld that investigators uncovered. What appeared as a straightforward homicide revealed a complex web of financial deception and exploitation within the funeral industry.
The suspects’ professional status seemed to have enabled them to operate with a sense of impunity, exploiting their positions of trust to gain access to vulnerable families and Griffy’s assets.
Investigators uncovered evidence of a “mini-town mob,” a network of interconnected criminal activities beyond the murder itself. This included con artists, undertakers, and other suspicious figures that painted a picture of a broader criminal ecosystem thriving in the small town of Fowler.
A Case Unresolved
Despite the compelling findings and the detailed public examination through the documentary, the murder case remains officially unsolved. The absence of formal charges or convictions has left the Griffy family and the community grappling with unanswered questions about justice.
This unresolved status highlights potential gaps in the oversight and accountability mechanisms within the funeral industry, raising broader concerns about regulatory practices.
The documentary series has sparked renewed interest and discussions about the need for reform in the industry to prevent such abuses of power. As the community in Fowler continues to come to terms with the scandal, the case serves as a stark reminder of how positions of trust can be manipulated for sinister ends.
Sources:
He Thought He Was Above The Law | The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder
The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder on IMDb
HBO Max Presentation of the Documentary
