Two people have been arrested in the death of veterinarian Cynthia Campbell Eason, one of whom is her stepson.
The Coroner ruled that the preliminary cause of death is blunt force injuries; Eason was beaten to death.
Eason was found dead in her home in the Eastern Plains town of Burlington Friday afternoon.
The Burlington Police Department said officers arrested Dylan Eason, 19, and Isaiah Churchwell, 24, in connection with the murder.
While police have not released the relationship between Dylan Eason and Cynthia Eason, Eason's husband, Jon Eason, said that he wants the death penalty for his son and his son's friend.
"I am wondering as a parent, why I'm so insistent on my son and his friend receive the death penalty for killing my wife over simple greed," Eason wrote on Facebook. "I have never felt hate before, but I'm so engulfed in hate, that I I want my kid and his friend to pay with their lives. I'm ashamed of feeling this way, I know Cindy would not like my anger and madness that I'm living with."
In an interview with Denver7's Jaclyn Allen, Jon Eason did not want to speak about the crime, but about his wife of five years.
"I just want the world to know that she was a wonderful woman. She was my best friend. I can’t imagine a life without her but I’m going to have to live it, and it sucks," he said.
And while he said he is still "leaning towards" wanting the death penalty, "I have a double sword here. I’ve actually lost my son, too. Although I think I lost him years ago."
Neighbors said Dylan Eason was a high-school dropout, who had already had run-ins with law enforcement.
"His friends told me he was always saying he was going to snap one day," said Kayla Pleimann, who lives next door. "I knew he was very violent."
Police said it’s believed the suspects allegedly entered Eason’s home, caused her death, then fled with items stolen from the residence.
Police said the suspects are being held without bond.
Meanwhile, the town of Burlington is grieving the loss.
"People here, I don’t even know them, and they’re hugging me because my wife touched their life," said Jon Eason. "I didn’t realize how important Cindy was to this community until Saturday."
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