Colorado Man, Miles James Kirby, Exonerated After Girlfriend's Death Is Ruled As Suicide

A Colorado man has been cleared of charges in his girlfriend's death after the local coroner's office determined that she likely died by suicide. 

Miles James Kirby (pictured above), who was initially charged with murder and tampering with a deceased human body, spoke at a press conference expressing his innocence and desire to live peacefully with his children. 

Kirby discovered his girlfriend, Joslyn Teetzel, hanging from a rope in their backyard shed and immediately called for help. 

However, investigators from the Fountain Police Department accused Kirby of staging the scene to look like a suicide in an attempt to cover up the murder. 

Kirby's attorneys argued that if the police had conducted a thorough investigation, they would have found evidence supporting the suicide theory. 

Video evidence reviewed by the coroner showed Teetzel walking to the shed alone before Kirby went outside to check on her. 

Kirby attempted to save her by performing chest compressions and calling 911. Despite his efforts, Teetzel was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The arrest affidavit written by Detective Brian Cristiani, who responded to the incident, stated that the marks on Teetzel's neck did not appear consistent with a hanging. 

However, Kirby's attorneys criticized the detective's lack of expertise and claimed that he did not review all the available video footage, which would have exonerated Kirby. 

After further investigation and review of additional evidence, including interview recordings and first responder documentation, the El Paso County Coroner's Office concluded that Teetzel's death was intentional and self-inflicted. 

The final autopsy report determined the cause of death as hanging and ruled it a suicide. Despite the charges being dismissed, Kirby's custody battle over his younger children continues. 

He expressed his frustration with the Fountain Police Department's failure to conduct a proper investigation, which he believes led to the loss of both his children's mother and father.

In another news, a South African woman has been arrested after she intentionally started a fire that led to her child's death. See detailed story here