The death of 97-year-old Corrye Brewer, an African American woman from El Paso County, Colorado who succumbed to hypothermia in January, has been officially ruled a homicide by the Coroner’s Office. Brewer, who had cognitive impairments and required daily medication, went missing after last being seen on January 24 in Peyton, Colorado. Her body was discovered days later outside an abandoned home, exposed to frigid temperatures.
Authorities allege that Brewer was intentionally left outside an unoccupied property on Judge Orr Road in Calhan by a family member—reportedly her daughter—without a cell phone, her walker, or any means of returning home or calling for help. That night, temperatures dropped as low as 16 degrees and snow was falling, creating dangerous conditions for anyone left outside.
According to the coroner’s findings, Brewer was left with no access to shelter or assistance, and this act of neglect directly led to her death from hypothermia. She was discovered lying on the ground at the same location where she had allegedly been abandoned.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed that Brewer had suffered from memory-related cognitive issues, which made her particularly vulnerable. The National Center for Missing and Endangered announced her passing on January 27, offering condolences to her family and loved ones in a heartfelt message shared on social media.
Brewer’s grandson later said that he believes someone should be held responsible for her tragic death. “Somebody needs to be held accountable,” he said. Multiple outlets have reported that investigators suspect intentional abandonment, though no arrests have yet been announced.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has stated that the case remains under active investigation.
