This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Investigators are still awaiting toxicology reports they hope will shed light on how a 47-year-old Emery County woman died in mid-July — possibly at the hands of her now-deceased husband.
Earlier this month, the Orangeville woman's 55-year-old husband, who was a "person of interest" in the her death, fatally shot himself after being released from the hospital, where he had recovered from another self-inflicted gunshot wound he suffered the day his wife was found dead at their home.
The death of Kristi Maxwell was being investigated as a homicide, Emery County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Janalee Luke said in July, and her husband Richard Maxwell was the only person of interest, according to an Aug. 8 news release from the sheriff's office.
Two search warrant affidavits, which were unsealed in the past week, indicate the couple had been having marital problems and that Richard Maxwell had been suicidal.
On July 17, family members called police to the Maxwells' residence, near 400 North and Canyon View, for a welfare check after they hadn't seen or heard from Kristi Maxwell all day, which was "not normal," the affidavits said.
Kristi Maxwell's sister told police that the woman "has been praying for her life and that her husband has been suicidal and told [Kristi Maxwell] that he is going to take [her] out with him," affidavits stated.
Police tried, and failed to make contact with anyone inside the home at about 9 p.m. Another officer was dispatched to the home about 10:15 p.m. after a report that shots had been fired inside.
According to affidavits, family members arrived at the house with a key and three male family members entered the home.
"A few moments later, [two men] ran out the front door stating that [Richard Maxwell] had a gun under his chin," affidavits said. One male family member was still inside with Richard Maxwell when police heard a gunshot from inside the house.
Police got the family member out of the house and saw a man, later identified as Richard Maxwell, sit down inside.
About 11 p.m., police tried to contact Richard Maxwell with a public address system and a cell phone, but failed. When an officer moved closer to the house, he "observed someone sitting and observed the subject's hand move."
Officers approached the front door, and as they got closer saw Richard Maxwell stand up and walk toward the front door.
One officer, who knew Richard Maxwell "personally from prior dealings ... yelled at him to see if he would exit the door peacefully," affidavits say. Richard Maxwell had blood on his chest and what appeared to be a bullet hole on the right side of his chest, an officer wrote in one of the affidavits.
Richard Maxwell reached the door with a "scared look on his face, did not say anything and just shut the door and locked it," affidavits state. Richard Maxwell proceeded to walk into another room, and officers kicked in the door.
When officers found Richard Maxwell, he was sitting down at the dining room table with a handgun on the table next to him, the affidavits state. They also noticed a "large amount of blood on the floor," affidavits state. One officer pushed the handgun farther away from Richard Maxwell, affidavits said.
While some officers attended to Richard Maxwell, two others searched the house "for any other possible threats or victims."
Police found Kristi Maxwell's body in a bedroom with covers over her, affidavits state. Her face was blueish, an officer wrote, but there was no visible trauma on her body. An EMT confirmed she was dead, affidavits state.
An autopsy of Kristi Maxwell declared her cause of death was "undetermined," affidavits state, and investigators were waiting on toxicology reports after the medical examiner noticed what appeared to be "pill residue," or "a substance that sparkled on the back of Kristi's tongue. This is something the doctor stated that food does not do," affidavits state.
The doctor also noted "some fluid in the lungs that is a possible indication of drugs," affidavits said.
An EMT crew transported Richard Maxwell to the hospital on July 17 for treatment, affidavits state.
An officer reported overhearing medical personnel stating that "on top of being intoxicated, [Richard Maxwell] had opiates and benzodiazepines in his system," affidavits said. Benzodiazepines are often used as sedatives or to lower anxiety levels, according to WebMD, and one commonly-known benzodiazepine is Xanax.
Richard Maxwell had been struggling to find steady employment, affidavits said, "and this has had an impact on his mental state and marriage, according to friends and family."
Family members also reported Kristi Maxwell suffered from "extreme migraine headaches and also had surgery a few years back on her brain from an aneurysm," affidavits said.
From the home, police later seized several beer cans and bottles, three shot glasses — one of which contained an "unknown partial tablet," four pet prescription bottles, a medicine measuring cup and bedding and pillows from where Kristi Maxwell's body was found, which an officer thought might contain "vomit which is evidence of drug overdose," the affidavit said.
During an attempt to interview Richard Maxwell on July 20, his heart began beating irregularly and he was unable to talk, affidavits say. It is not clear from the affidavits whether police were able to interview Richard Maxwell again.
Richard Maxwell remained in the hospital until the first week of August, when he was released, according to the sheriff's office news release.
On Aug. 8, deputies received another request for a "welfare check" and went to the home where Maxwell had been staying since he left the hospital, the release said. They found he had shot himself again, the release said, this time fatally.
The release did not say why Richard Maxwell was not taken into custody in connection with his wife's death.
Calls to the Emery County Attorney's Office on Wednesday were not returned.
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