By Ryan Severance
The Pueblo Chieftain
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. — A 42-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter who were found dead in a Pueblo West home Monday both appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds, but the official cause and manner of their deaths is pending the outcome of autopsies, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.
The bodies of the mother and daughter — identified by Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter as Jennifer Hamula, 42, and Stephie Hamula, 10 — were found Monday afternoon in a home on the 1000 block of Mescal Drive after deputies conducted a welfare check at the residence.
A search warrant for the house was granted and executed Monday night and sheriff’s office detectives worked with officials from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the coroner’s office throughout the night and into Tuesday investigating the incident and processing the scene.
It appeared both females suffered gunshot wounds, but the cause and manner of death is pending the outcome of autopsies, which are scheduled for today, according to Cotter.
Two dogs also were found dead inside the home, both of which also appeared to have been shot.
The sheriff’s office said Tuesday that a preliminary investigation indicates the mother and daughter who were found dead are occupants of the home and it is not believed that there are any further threats to the community.
Jennifer Hamula was a correctional officer with the Colorado Department of Corrections and had been employed there since October 1997, a DOC official said.
She was working at the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City most recently.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In a statement, Sheriff Kirk Taylor said “this is a very tragic situation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased. We will continue to follow the evidence to determine the sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths.”
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©2017 The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, Colo.)