Colorado authorities identify 4 people found dead following reported shooting inside home

A sheriff's deputy from the El Paso County Sheriff's Department... — A sheriff's deputy from the El Paso County Sheriff's Department walks down the road after reattaching crime scene tape across the road that leads to a house, Dec. 7, 2023, in Peyton, Colo. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, Colorado authorities released the identities of four people, including three family members, who were found dead inside the home in rural Colorado following a reported shooting the week before. Credit: AP/Jerilee Bennett

By The Associated PressUpdated December 12, 2023

PEYTON, Colo. — Colorado authorities on Tuesday released the identities of four people, including three family members, who were found dead inside a home in rural Colorado following a reported shooting last week.

The manner and causes of death were not released pending final autopsy results from the El Paso County coroner. However, only three of the deaths are being investigated as homicides, according to the county sheriff's office, suggesting they were killed in an apparent murder-suicide.

The deaths of Desiree N. Vandelac, 54, Robert V. Vandelac, 57, and Debray A. Scott, 30, are being investigated as homicides.

The Vandelacs' son, Peyton S. Vandelac, also was found deceased inside the residence.

The shooting was reported near midnight on Dec. 6 in the small community of Peyton, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Colorado Springs. Deputies initially found a man outside the home with injuries that were not life-threatening, and a SWAT team later entered and found the four bodies.

The sheriff's office said at the time that it was not searching for any suspects and there was no threat to the community.

The identity of the injured man has not been released and the investigation is continuing, said sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Marc Miller. He said no further updates are expected until the autopsy results are released in about 6 weeks.