In the quiet, mountainous region of Tesuque, New Mexico, near Santa Fe, a young boy named Owen Propes, a 3-year-old White / Caucasian male, lived an active, outdoor-oriented life with his father. Described as a toddler with unruly blond hair, rosy cheeks, and bright blue eyes, Owen was considered an extremely active child by his grandfather.
On January 17, 2019, a scheduled custody hearing for Owen was missed by his father, 33-year-old Ryan Propes.
This absence prompted Santa Fe sheriff's deputies to be dispatched to their home. Upon arrival, they discovered a tragic scene.
Investigators determined that on that afternoon, Ryan Propes had shot and killed his young son, Owen, and the family dog before turning the gun on himself. The authorities concluded that Ryan Propes was the sole perpetrator in the shootings. As the suspect took his own life, no arrests were made in connection with Owen's death. The incident was classified as a murder-suicide, leaving the community to grapple with the devastating loss of a young life under such violent circumstances.
