In the crisp autumn of 2020, the life of Michael Dean Bryan, a 40-year-old man from Pine, Colorado, was brought to a tragic and abrupt end. Known for his vibrant personality and a smile that could light up a room, Michael was a family man with a passion for bull riding. He was the owner of Bryan Enterprises Inc., a hay brokerage and sales company, and was deeply loved by his wife, Leah, and their two children, Kelton and Kaia.
His sudden passing on October 24, 2020, left a permanent void in the hearts of his family and friends, who remembered him as a shining light in their lives.
On that fateful Saturday evening, just before 8 p.m., the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office received a report of a shooting in the 5000 block of McIntyre Street, an area not far from Golden. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered Michael Dean Bryan with a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but, tragically, was pronounced dead. The initial investigation pointed towards a violent confrontation that had unfolded at the property.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect, 49-year-old William Robert Taft, who resided on the very property where Michael was found. It is alleged that a physical altercation occurred between Taft and Bryan, which escalated to the fatal shooting. Taft was promptly arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. It was also discovered that he had other outstanding warrants for his arrest at the time.
Following his arrest, William Robert Taft was held without bond at the Jefferson County jail. The First Judicial District Attorney's Office filed a series of charges against him, including first-degree murder after deliberation, attempted murder, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, possession of a prohibited large-capacity magazine, and possession of a defaced firearm. Additionally, he faced two counts of violation of a protective order and two violent crime counts, painting a grim picture of the circumstances surrounding the death of Michael Dean Bryan.
