In January 2024, James "Jake" Hill, 45, shot and killed his two biological daughters—Jessi Hill, 7, and Summer Hill, 3—before killing himself at his home in Phippsburg, Colorado (Routt County). The children normally lived with their mother, Tierny Pearson, in Cedaredge but were visiting their father for a court-ordered weekend parenting time. The parents were in a contentious custody dispute, and the father had a documented history of domestic violence and coercive control toward the mother, including a prior dismissed stalking charge. The father had only recently been granted unsupervised parenting time (approximately November 27, 2023), and the mother had remarried on December 15, 2023, which appeared to upset the father. The bodies were discovered on January 13, 2024, during a welfare check by the Routt County Sheriff's Office, who determined the scene was a murder-suicide with no further threat to the public.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The fatality report explicitly states: "The administrator learned that the children died from gunshot wounds." It also identifies as a risk factor that "The father had access to a firearm."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report states: "The administrator learned that the children died from gunshot wounds." The father shot and killed the children, constituting inflicted injury by firearm.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Both documents explicitly describe this as a murder-suicide. The news article states the deaths are an "apparent murder-suicide." The fatality report states: "law enforcement was investigating a murder/suicide involving the two children and their father." The timeline confirms: "The father shot and killed the children prior to killing himself."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report confirms the father was the biological father of both children: "The children, who were seven and three years old, were the parents' only children together." The timeline states: "The father shot and killed the children prior to killing himself." The news article identifies him as James "Jake" Hill, 45, the children's father.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report documents a prior referral: "10/10/2023: SCHS received a report of concern that the mother had been driving the children while the mother was under the influence of cannabis. The mother was also not allowing the father to have contact with or see the children. The referral was determined not to meet criteria for assessment." The report also states: "Within the last three years, the family had prior involvement with Second County Human Services consisting of one referral."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report extensively documents domestic violence. It states: "The mother reported that the father was abusive and controlling of her during their relationship." Among identified risk factors: "Domestic violence and coercive control, perpetrated by the father towards the mother." Additionally: "The father was the perpetrator of domestic violence in his previous relationships, as reported by the mother and one of the father's ex-wives."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states: "The father had a prior stalking charge, with the mother as the victim, which had been dismissed." This stalking charge predates the fatal incident and constitutes prior criminal history.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states: "The mother had a history of cannabis use, but she did not have any other known substance use concerns." Additionally, the October 2023 referral alleged "the mother had been driving the children while the mother was under the influence of cannabis." Regarding the father: "There were no known concerns for substance use by the father, and no alcohol or illicit substances were found in his home after the incident."
Notable Details
The fatality report identifies several significant systemic issues. The CFRT noted a systemic gap where "domestic violence related criminal charges being dismissed in court and perpetrators of domestic violence not being held accountable for their violent and controlling behaviors," specifically referencing the father's dismissed stalking charge. The review recommended that "domestic relations court cases...look at the totality of a family's history, including child welfare allegations, criminal charges that are either dropped or dismissed, and criminal convictions before making custody decisions." Additionally, the father was granted unsupervised parenting time approximately November 27, 2023, despite his documented history of domestic violence and a dismissed stalking charge against the mother. The incident occurred during only the father's third weekend visit. The mother had attempted to flee the relationship by moving out of state, but the father followed her. The father's family was noted to have "blamed the mother for the father's actions." The CFRT also identified a gap regarding the lack of reports to child welfare about the father's coercive control during the domestic relations proceedings, and the prior referral (10/10/2023) alleging the mother was driving under the influence of cannabis was screened out without assessment.
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