ALAMOSA — A little more than two months after the body of Cindy Denholm, 68, was discovered in the Sangre de Cristo Ranches community in Costilla County, the El Paso County coroner has determined the cause of death to be the result of multiple injuries from an animal attack. The injuries were consistent with those made by a canine.  Denholm’s body was found on Jan. 23 within close proximity of the residence where she was staying. 

The autopsy results were contained in the coroner’s report released on Thursday to Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez. The Costilla County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death with assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).  

“They emailed to me the autopsy and it does say it was canine bites,” Sanchez told the Valley Courier. “However, we’re still awaiting some DNA results which will probably take some time.” 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) assisted in the investigation when evidence of animal involvement was discovered and ultimately determined there was no evidence of wildlife involvement in the incident. The evidence found points to domestic canines.  

The area has had a history of domestic dogs running loose for years, some of which have been feral, Sheriff Sanchez said in a statement. When asked if he has ever heard of a person being attacked by dogs in that area, Sanchez said, “Not in the time I’ve been sheriff. No.”  

Sanchez said that he has heard that there have been claims of feral dogs but it has not been reported to the sheriff’s office, he has never been told directly of feral dogs and has never seen feral dogs himself.  

He said there has also been speculation and rumors that it might have been an attack from a mountain lion or a bear. While acknowledging that there is wildlife in the area, “nothing in the evidence shows that this was an attack of that type.”  He also said there have been posts on social media saying it was a wolf, but he refutes those claims, as well. “It wasn’t a wolf,” he said. “Wolves are tracked.”  

When asked if there are plans to issue a warning to people in the area, Sanchez said that wasn’t likely.  “This was an isolated incident,” he said. “She wasn’t out walking and attacked. This incident happened close to the residence where she was living.” 

Sanchez says that, although the cause of death has been determined, the case is not closed as evidence is still being collected and examined.  

“Swab samples taken on bite wounds were obtained during the autopsy. Those samples will be available for further DNA analysis. And we’re still working with CBI in obtaining some further DNA samples from the dogs who were at the residence. He repeated, “all of that is going to take time to get the results back.”