Mother Charged After Investigation Into 16-Year-Old’s Alcohol-Related Death

Published On: June 4, 2026

A Colorado woman has been charged in connection with the death of her 16-year-old daughter following a months-long investigation that examined the teen’s alcohol use and medical condition prior to her death.

Gretchen Leanne Ryan, 55, is charged with one count of second-degree murder in the March death of her daughter, according to a media release from the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Response

On March 9, Arvada police and fire crews were called to a home in the 6400 block of West 85th Avenue after receiving a report of an unresponsive teenage girl. The 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy later conducted by the Jefferson County forensic pathologist determined the cause of death was aspiration pneumonia related to chronic alcohol use. The manner of death was classified as natural, citing the volitional component of alcohol consumption, and concluded the teen died during a terminal episode of acute aspiration pneumonia.

Findings

Preliminary autopsy results showed the victim had an abnormally fatty liver for someone her age, which medical professionals said was consistent with prolonged and extensive alcohol use.

Detectives with the Arvada Police Department conducted an investigation that included forensic examinations of cellular devices belonging to Ryan and her daughter. According to prosecutors, digital evidence showed the two frequently consumed alcohol and marijuana together.

Beginning in September, messages allegedly showed near-daily discussions about drinking and purchasing alcohol. Investigators say Ryan arranged regular alcohol deliveries to the home and took steps to conceal her daughter’s alcohol use from the girl’s father, who primarily lived in the basement of the residence.

Communications

According to the district attorney’s office, text messages between Ryan and her daughter documented worsening health issues in the months leading up to the teen’s death.

“The victim’s documented communication with Ryan shows that in the months leading up to her death she was suffering from significant physical health concerns, due to the alcohol Ryan was allegedly providing her,” the media release states.

Messages described symptoms including vomiting blood, difficulty eating and walking, and the use of diapers due to complications associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Prosecutors say the teen repeatedly expressed fears that she was going to die and sought help from her mother.

On the night before her death, the teen continued messaging her mother about being sick. The last message was sent at 10:07 p.m. on March 8 from an iPad found near her body in the bathroom. Messages sent from Ryan’s device afterward went unanswered, according to investigators.

Records show 911 was not called until approximately 8:15 a.m. the following morning.

Evidence

During a search of the teen’s bedroom, detectives found 173 empty alcohol bottles hidden under her bed and inside her closet. The bottles included various brands and sizes of vodka and other hard liquor, according to the district attorney’s office.

Investigators said the evidence supports the conclusion that the victim had been supplied alcohol over an extended period of time.

Background

In April 2025, the teen was unenrolled from her public high school and transitioned to online schooling. At the time of her death, she had completed only one semester of ninth grade online and had not participated in activities outside the home for several months, according to prosecutors.