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Deaths of couple found on Mancos Hill ruled as suicide

A deceased couple were found in a vehicle parked on U.S. Highway 160 at Mancos Hill on June 30.

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Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering suicide:

Axis Care Hotline:

24/7 local response to your crisis & behavioral health needs: (970) 247-5245

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE:

(800) 273-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 741741

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(877) 542-7233 or safe2tell.org

COLORADO CRISIS SUPPORT LINE:

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FOR MEN

A website for adult men contemplating suicide is available at mantherapy.org

The causes of death of a married couple found deceased June 30 in a vehicle parked on Mancos Hill have been determined to be suicide, said Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin Thursday.

Eric Richard Allen, 56, and Yong C. Allen, 56, were discovered in an Ford Expedition on the south shoulder of U.S. 160 about 100 feet west of the La Plata County line.

Richard Allen died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A handgun was recovered.

Yong Allen died from an overdose of Ambien sleeping pills, according to a forensic report released by the Montezuma County Coroner’s Office Thursday, Nowlin said. She had a prescription for the pills.

The time of death of the couple was about the same time, according to the autopsy report.

The couple were from Roswell, New Mexico. They had recently sold all their belongings and had been on the road for the past year, Nowlin said.

The vehicle had been parked at the location on Mancos Hill for several days. It was not damaged and had not been in a crash. There was no signs of bodily trauma on Yong Allen, and her cause of death was unknown until the forensic report was completed.

A local driver noticed the vehicle had been there a while and contacted law enforcement on June 30. The couple were discovered the same day.