Man's body discovered in van confirmed as suicide victim
Gunshot caused death of Denver consultant
By News Staff
An autopsy report has confirmed that a man whose body was found in a van parked in the Pike National Forest last week committed suicide.
Snowmobile riders discovered the body of James Daniel Watkins, 59, in a snow-packed parking area off Rampart Ridge Road in Douglas County on Dec. 1.
The discovery came nearly two weeks after the Jefferson County man had been reported missing.
Watkins' body was lying in the back of his locked 1998 Ford Econoline van partially covered in a sheet, according to the Douglas County autopsy report, which was released Tuesday.
Watkins died of a single gunshot to the right temple.
A .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun was found lying near Watkins' right hand, according to the report. Investigators also found a note.
Watkins had been missing since the afternoon of Nov. 13, when he left work at the downtown Denver accounting firm of Arthur Andersen.
Watkins, a telecommunications consultant, was described by his wife, Pat, during an interview last week as a devoted family man who always called home if he was going to be late.
She later said the family was "brokenhearted," but she declined to comment further.
Officials initially said the death was suspicious and were awaiting the autopsy findings before ruling whether it was a homicide or a suicide.
The condition of the body, which had apparently been in the car for a long time, delayed the autopsy, said Wes Riber, Douglas County's chief deputy coroner.
December 12, 2001
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