In the small town of Phippsburg, Colorado, a heart-wrenching scene unfolded on January 13, 2024, leaving a community in mourning and a family shattered. On that day, the Routt County Sheriff's Office, prompted by a request to check on the welfare of a family, made a grim discovery at a residence on 4th Avenue. Inside, they found the bodies of 45-year-old James “Jake” Hill and his two young daughters, 7-year-old Jessi Hill and 3-year-old Summer Hill.
Summer was a White female.
The preliminary investigation by the sheriff's office pointed towards a devastating murder-suicide. It is believed that James Hill took the lives of his two daughters before taking his own. The two girls, who lived with their mother, Tierny Pearson, in Cedaredge, were visiting their father at the time of the incident. The family was reportedly in the midst of a child custody dispute that had been filed in Delta County the previous October.
In the wake of this tragedy, the tight-knit community has rallied around the grieving mother. A friend of the family initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help with the unexpected funeral expenses for the two young girls. The outpouring of support was immediate and substantial, quickly surpassing the initial fundraising goal. The community also came together for a candlelight vigil and balloon release in Cedaredge Park to honor the memories of Jessi and Summer.
The Routt County Sheriff's Office has stated that they are investigating the deaths as an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing danger to the public. With the primary suspect deceased, there are no arrests to be made in connection with the deaths of Summer and Jessi Hill. The investigation is ongoing to understand the full circumstances of this tragic event that cut short the lives of two innocent children.
