Lakewood Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Wife's Murder

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — A Lakewood man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Bruce Bagwell, 61, shot and killed his wife Feb. 6 in their Lakewood home, prosecutors said. He and his wife, Theresa Bagwell, 58, had been married for 37 years before she was shot to death, according to the First Judicial District Attorney's office.

Theresa Bagwell had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in January, and the couple chose in-home hospice care instead of treatment. The hospice care provider was with Mrs. Bagwell earlier in the day that she was murdered, the DA's office said.

Her father called to speak to her, and Bruce Bagwell told him that he killed her, the DA's office said.

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Bruce Bagwell shot his wife twice in the back of the head with a shotgun, and then fired a third shot at close range into her chest, authorities said.

“This is an unconscionable act of violence. This was not suicide, this was not mercy, this was not consensual, this was cold-blooded murder,” said DA Pete Weir.

Following a trial, a jury deliberated one hour Oct. 28 before finding Bagwell guilty.