In the early hours of May 8, 2023, the life of 45-year-old Colin Roy Williams of Clifton, Colorado, was tragically cut short in Gunnison County. He was a beloved husband, father of three sons, and a talented artist known for his generosity and dedication to his loved ones. Williams, along with 33-year-old Estefan Coronado of Fruita, was found deceased in a Ford F-250 pickup truck that had gone off Highway 50 near Sapinero, about 20 miles west of Gunnison.
A Gunnison County deputy on
patrol noticed the headlights of the vehicle off the road around 4:15 a.m. and stopped to investigate. Upon approaching the scene, the deputy encountered 27-year-old Zachary Baker of Grand Junction, who was outside the truck and hysterically yelling on the phone to his mother, claiming that 'they were going to kill me' and that he had shot them. Baker then confirmed to the deputy that he had shot someone in the truck and was taken into custody without resistance. Inside the vehicle, the deputy discovered Williams and Coronado in the front seats, both having sustained multiple gunshot wounds to their torsos.
Zachary Baker was subsequently arrested on two counts of first-degree murder. According to court documents, Baker alleged that he had shot the two men from the back seat of the truck. He claimed to have feared for his safety, stating he believed Williams and Coronado had become paranoid of him. The investigation suggested that both victims were shot from behind.
During legal proceedings, Baker's defense argued that he was acting in self-defense against two men with violent tendencies and criminal records. The prosecution, however, contended that Baker had defamed the victims and that they were fatally 'shot in the back.' A judge set Baker's bail at $500,000. The case remains under investigation by the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Gunnison County Coroner's Office.
