In the quiet community of Peyton, Colorado, about 30 miles northeast of Colorado Springs, a domestic argument on December 6, 2023, escalated into a tragic event that left four people dead. Among the victims was 57-year-old Robert V. Vandelac, a White male who was found deceased in his home on Akawi Way. His death, along with two others, is being investigated as a homicide in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide.
The evening began with Robert's two sons, Tyler and Peyton, in the basement of the family home. An argument erupted between them over fixing a water fountain for their dogs. The dispute quickly turned physical, with Peyton, who had been drinking heavily, allegedly charging at his brother and causing him to dislocate his shoulder. When Robert and his wife, Desiree, intervened and criticized Peyton for his behavior, they instructed him to get rid of the alcohol in the house.
Shortly after the confrontation, the sound of loud bangs echoed from upstairs. Tyler, who had gone to his room to prepare to go to the hospital for his shoulder, rushed out to find his parents slumped over in the hallway. He reportedly saw his brother, Peyton, wiping a knife on their father's leg. Fearing for his life, Tyler managed to escape the house and call 911.
When El Paso County Sheriff's deputies and a SWAT team arrived, they found a man outside the home with non-life-threatening injuries. Inside, they discovered the bodies of Robert V. Vandelac; his 54-year-old wife, Desiree N. Vandelac; and a 30-year-old family friend, Debray A. Scott. All three deaths are being investigated as homicides. The fourth body was that of 22-year-old Peyton S. Vandelac, the son who had been in the initial altercation. His death is not being investigated as a homicide, leading authorities to believe he was the perpetrator in a murder-suicide. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has stated that they are not searching for any other suspects and that there is no ongoing threat to the community. The investigation is pending final autopsy results.
