More details emerged Tuesday surrounding the death of a La Plata County Sheriff's Office deputy who was found dead in a burning house last week with a gunshot wound.
According to a news release from the La Plata County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Jeremiah Lee informed the Sheriff's Office about a personal situation in his life in the first week of October, which prompted the Sheriff's Office to conduct an administrative investigation.
For that investigation, the Sheriff's Office asked for the assistance of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the release said.
On Oct. 10 - three days before Lee was found dead - the deputy submitted a letter of resignation, effective immediately, to the Sheriff's Office. The investigation into the "personal situation" had not been complete, the release said.
On Thursday, hours before Lee was found in his burning home, Sheriff Sean Smith requested a Crisis Intervention Team member to check on Lee.
"The team member made contact with Lee at 9:15 p.m. and reportedly, the conversation went well and the men made arrangements to meet for lunch in the near future," the release said.
A little after 12:30 a.m. Friday, authorities received a report that Lee's home at 6491 County Road 516, less than a mile from downtown Bayfield, was on fire.
Initial reports indicated a man was found inside with a gunshot wound. The man, without a pulse and not breathing, was pulled from the house but was unable to be revived.
It soon came to light the man was Lee, 42, a lifelong resident of La Plata County and a deputy with the Sheriff's Office.
According to the news release, Lee joined the Sheriff's Office two years ago. Before that, he was with the Durango Police Department for 18 years.
"Jeremiah Lee ... will be deeply missed by all those that knew him," the release said. "Jeremiah was a father, a son, a brother, a friend, and a law enforcement officer that served his community for 20 years."
The circumstances of the fire and Lee's death remain under investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. A spokeswoman with CBI did not immediately return calls seeking comment Tuesday morning.
Upper Pine River Fire Protection District Bruce Evans said Sunday that more information will be available Wednesday after forensics and an autopsy come back from CBI.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
