A 44-year-old professor from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, Nicholas Myklebust, was taken into custody this week under suspicion of murdering his wife. Law enforcement officials believe that Myklebust fatally assaulted his wife and then attempted to cover up the crime by claiming she had fallen in their home. The couple’s infant daughter, who was only two months old, was also found deceased in the residence.
Myklebust, who teaches English at the university, was arrested on Monday and is currently being investigated for first-degree murder. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed by the authorities due to their familial relationship with Myklebust and the need to inform their next of kin.
According to the Denver Police Department, a 911 call was made from Myklebust’s residence on North Syracuse Street early Monday morning. Myklebust reported to the dispatcher that he had found his wife bleeding on the floor and their infant daughter unresponsive.
Upon their arrival, first responders discovered a severely injured woman with multiple blunt-force injuries. She was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The authorities also found the lifeless body of Myklebust’s infant daughter in the home, who showed no visible signs of injury.
During questioning at the police headquarters, Myklebust suggested that his wife’s injuries were the result of a fall. However, investigators found discrepancies in his account, noting that the injuries on the deceased woman did not align with a fall. Detectives also noted bruising and blood on Myklebust’s knuckles and scratches on his neck, leading to his arrest on suspicion of murder.
The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner will perform autopsies on the victims to determine the cause and manner of death. The Denver District Attorney’s Office will decide on the formal charges against Myklebust, with any additional charges pending the conclusion of the Medical Examiner’s Office investigation.
The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with relevant information to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. A local resident, who witnessed the police activity, described the incident as “unnerving” and “way too close to home.”
Myklebust, who holds a Ph.D. in medieval languages and literatures from the University of Texas at Austin, previously worked as a lecturer and instructor. His biography on the Regis University website describes him as a linguist specializing in the literatures of post-classical and medieval cultures.