UPDATE:
The death of Center resident Bill McClure, 78, is being investigated as a homicide, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said in a press release late Tuesday evening.
The cause of death will be determined later this week after an autopsy is conducted by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.
McClure’s family and construction workers reported to CBI seeing and speaking with him on Friday. McClure’s daughter, Robin McClure, posted on FaceBook on Monday Dec. 22, “Has anyone seen my Dad? He’s been MIA [Missing in Action] since Friday.”
According to CBI, Center Police were conducting a welfare check at McClure’s residence and office on E. Highway 112 where they found him dead just after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The body was located in “the kitchen area of the home with fatal injuries.”
The welfare check was made after workers who were building a new garage at McClure’s residence told police they hadn’t seen or heard from him “for a couple of days.”
The time of death is currently undetermined, CBI said.
CBI said it is leading the investigation and receiving assistance from the Center PD, the Alamosa Police Department and the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The agency said it had no further information to release.
Robin McClure posted on FaceBook on Tuesday morning after police discovered her father, “I’m heartbroken to report that my Dad has been murdered. Please, Please. If you know anything about this contact the Center PD or the CBI.”
original story posted Tuesday, Dec. 23
Former Center Trustee Bill McClure was found dead in his accounting office in Center on Tuesday. Saguache County Coroner Tom Perrin confirmed the death to Alamosa Citizen but couldn’t comment on the nature of the death investigation.
McClure was a long-time Center resident and most recently was removed by the Town Board of Trustees by unanimous vote over his use of a racial slur toward a town employee in 2024.
Perrin said that McClure was found dead on Tuesday but couldn’t comment on how long McClure had been dead before he was found. He said authorities were still investigating the death and couldn’t comment when asked if McClure’s death was being investigated as a homicide.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation strategic communications director Rob Low told the Citizen that CBI was the “lead agency investigating a suspicious death at a residence off Highway 112” in Center. Low said he couldn’t confirm the identity until an autopsy was completed.
DA investigator Mickey Finn was at the scene in Center and said he couldn’t answer if the DA’s office was investigating the death of McClure. He referred inquiries to the CBI.
The Saguache County Coroner’s office said McClure’s body was found Tuesday morning. His body was removed by the coroner’s office at around 5:10 p.m.
“Center, Colorado, police asked us to take the lead this morning when officers found the body during a welfare check,” Low said.