Durango Police Department and the La Plata County Coroner’s office responded Wednesday morning to a report of a man who died by suicide in west Durango.
Howard Randal Sills, 34, had no identification on him, said Coroner Jann Smith.
An autopsy will be performed Wednesday afternoon, Smith said, but the manner of death will be ruled a suicide.
For help
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering suicide:
Axis Care Hotline:
24/7 local response to your crisis & behavioral health needs: 247-5245
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE:
988
RED NACIONAL DE PREVENCIÓN DEL SUICIDIO:
988
FORT LEWIS COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER:
247-7212
BOYS TOWN HOTLINE:
(800) 448-3000.
SAFE2TELL COLORADO:
(877) 542-7233 or safe2tell.org
COLORADO CRISIS SUPPORT LINE:
(844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 or online at coloradocrisisservices.org to access a live chat available in 17 languages. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths 24 hours a day.
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION:
Colorado chapter information available at afsp.org/chapter/afsp-colorado/
FOR MEN:
A website for adult men contemplating suicide is available at mantherapy.org
First responders were paged to the bridge over Junction Creek at West Second Avenue and 24th Street around 8:20 a.m. by a reporting party who noticed Sills’ body hanging underneath.
Sills’ death is the fourth suicide in La Plata County in 2025, according to the coroner’s office. A husband and wife, one of whom was terminally ill, both died by suicide earlier this year.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
This story has been updated to correct the deceased’s name to Howard Randal Sills. Incorrect information was given to the Herald.
