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Slain couple's infant daughter had leg fractures

Parents died in apparent murder-suicide

By Tracee M. Herbaugh, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 3, 2008 at 8:46 p.m.

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William O'Shell

William O'Shell

Tiffany Cuin-O'Shell

Tiffany Cuin-O'Shell

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The infant daughter of the Adams County couple found dead in their home Monday night had multiple leg fractures when authorities took her from the home last month, according to a court record made public Thursday.

A search warrant affidavit gave more details on the apparent murder-suicide of William D. O'Shell, 30, and his wife, Tiffany Cuin-O'Shell, 25, and the child abuse investigation that was under way.

The affidavit gave this account:

Commerce City police Detective Dan McCoy was called to Children's Hospital on June 17 on a report of suspected child abuse.

McCoy "learned the victim of the child abuse, Alyssa O'Shell, had multiple fractures" on both legs.

O'Shell, a Lakewood police officer known by his middle name, Dave, said in an interview with McCoy that he would sometimes "lift up the baby by the legs and kiss her on the belly."

Tiffany Cuin-O'Shell, a former Lakewood officer, expressed concern to McCoy that the baby was "too little for this type of activity."

Adams County Social Services placed the couple's 3-month-old daughter in foster care based on those interviews.

O'Shell hired attorney Bonnie Saltzman, who set up a follow-up appointment with McCoy on June 21, but canceled the day before because her client was "too upset" to be interviewed.

Another appointment with McCoy was scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, but Saltzman called McCoy at 11:30 a.m. to cancel, saying she was unable to get in touch with O'Shell.

Police learned the couple also missed an 8 a.m. appointment Monday at Children's Hospital.

Jackie Cuin, Tiffany's mother, drove to the couple's home in Henderson about 5 p.m. after calls to her daughter went unanswered.

Cuin let herself into the garage and found the couple's two cars. She left and called her daughter again.

Around 5:40 p.m. Cuin returned with husband Paul Cuin, who went inside and found the couple dead in a bedroom.

Detective Bogdan Georgescu, who was called to the scene and wrote the affidavit, noted that three Glock pistols were found in the bedroom.

Both Cuin-O'Shell and O'Shell were found with "a large amount of blood covering their heads."

The Adams County coroner said the O'Shells died of blunt force trauma as a result of gunshot wounds.

Authorities have not said who fired.

Cuin-O'Shell was found on the bed with her left leg dangling off the side.

O'Shell was found on the floor to the left of the bed, his head partially inside a dog kennel. Neighbors of the O'Shells said the couple had three dogs.

They bought their home in the 11500 block of River Run Parkway in the Adams County community of Henderson in September for $219,500.

Cuin-O'Shell attended Thornton High School and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2005, according to her listing on Classmates.com.

Herbaught@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5623

Comments

  • July 4, 2008

    2:28 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    raoul writes:

    Hope the medical examiner makes a final determination as to the extent of injuries and the probable cause. Holding a 3 month baby up by the legs doesn't seem like the requisite trauma needed for multiple fractures.

    Regardless, the parent's and remaining family of the deceased couple are undoubtdebly both wondering (like the rest of us) what the h&ll was going on in the household and who is responsible for this 3 month abused baby no longer have parents.

  • July 4, 2008

    3:15 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    happymike44 writes:

    The real loser is this child for now it is an orphan in this world.
    I pray for her safety in this world and hope this will not scar her for life.
    As this scandal will follow her for all her life.
    What effect will this have on her emotional state in the future is undetermined.
    I wonder how do you explain a murder suicide to a child.
    Also I wonder what was so bad to force them to take ther lives.I pray for this little child of god she knows no more pain and misery in her life.

  • July 4, 2008

    10:23 a.m.

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    RDenver writes:

    What cowards! Abuse your young daughter than take your lives. Then not care about how your daughter grows up with that hanging over her head. True cowards.

  • July 4, 2008

    11:17 a.m.

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    The_Punnisher writes:

    Typical Police officer behavior. Breaking the legs was a typical tactic used to get a confession....

    The thin blue line would have covered this one up, but it became public before the spin artists got ahold of it.

    This was the ultimate example of abuse of authority. This behavior should have been caught and treated by the " pros " that infest the cop shop. The fact that they were able to pass screening and made a " peace " officer says volumes about the screening process..Or maybe the type of people that are given a badge...

    Do you want this type " protecting " you??? How about blowing people away for a cigarette butt??

    I feel more sadness for the trauma the kid is going to go through..

    And I do NOT feel safer going through Lakewood....

  • July 4, 2008

    2:11 p.m.

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    T1anda writes:

    Punnisher, to say that this is "typical"police officer behavior is lumping all cops into YOUR warped phobias. Police officers have children too!!! Do you think they sanction this sort of sick behavior by anybody?? Let alone one of their own??? There are good cops and bad cops.... Just like there are good and bad in every vocation!!

  • July 4, 2008

    3:19 p.m.

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    sheepherder writes:

    Punnisher, do you have any idea what you are talking about? The was the most non-sensical rant I have read on these posts. Grow up.

  • July 4, 2008

    4:10 p.m.

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    The_Punnisher writes:

    I've seen it from the professional side. You may want to keep your blinders on. I stand by my comments.

    The PSHRINKS could do their jobs and save us a lot of grief, but the only type you get today is the Dr. PILL type....

    Deal with REALITY for a change. When you actually are trained to OBSERVE, you see a pattern....

    And the pattern is not a good one.

  • July 4, 2008

    7 p.m.

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    dirty writes:

    Its interesting to note that so far the media have failed to refer to the fact that both of the O'Shells are reservists.

  • July 4, 2008

    8:27 p.m.

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    redwhiteandBLUE writes:

    Sounds more like they took a night stick to the poor baby's legs!!

  • July 5, 2008

    9:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Rauh writes:

    Punisher

    I went to the Lakewood Police Academy with Tiffany and I find it cruel and completely insensitive that you judge people that you don't even know. Tiffany was a quiet, kind young lady who gave it her all. She always talked of wanting kids and would smile when ever she saw children.

    Please be kind when making judgements about people in law enforcement. Policing is not for everyone, but no one can deny that when you call them, they are there. If you don't like the police, the next time you need help, call a meth-head.