Colo. Man Accused of Killing Woman Asked Passerby to Help Her, Claimed He Found Her Struggling to Breathe

Liam Quinn

21 August 2024 at 5:33 pm·1-min read

Brian Mervin allegedly assaulted the woman, then flagged someone down and told the person he found his 'wife' on the ground, according to a press release from police

<p>Denver Police Dept.</p> Brian Mervin — Denver Police Dept.
Brian Mervin

A Denver man who is suspected of killing a woman allegedly flagged someone down after assaulting her, asking the passerby to call 911.

Brian Mervin, 50, allegedly told the person that he found his "wife" on the ground on Monday, Aug. 19, Denver police said in a press release shared on social media. He claimed he discovered her struggling to breathe.

First responders arrived to find a woman, whom authorities have not yet identified, suffering from several injuries, which were not specified. It's unclear if the woman was actually Mervin's wife.

The woman was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. Police said investigators observed that her injuries were consistent with an assault and began investigating her death as a domestic homicide.

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Mervin was arrested and is “being held for investigation of one count of first-degree-murder,” police said in the release.

It is not immediately clear if prosecutors have formally charged Mervin with murder. A spokesperson for the Denver District Attorney’s Office tells PEOPLE the office has not yet received the case.

Mervin is being held in a downtown jail on $1 million bond. He is next due in court on Friday, Aug. 23.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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