Former police officer arrested for murder of wife; death previously ruled suicide

A former Colorado police officer was arrested Tuesday for the murder of his wife, whose death had been ruled a suicide nearly three years ago.

Tom Fallis, 34, was arrested on two felony charges for the murder of his wife, Ashley Fallis, 28, in 2012. He was arrested in Bloomington, Indiana, where he and his three children moved following the death of his wife.

The new charges in the indictment allege that Fallis, who was a Weld County deputy at the time, shot and killed his wife during an argument following a New Year's Eve party at their home on Jan. 1 in Evans, Colorado. According to the indictment, the couple was having an argument in their master bedroom when Fallis pulled out a 9mm gun and shot his wife in the right side of the head. The indictment states Fallis then lowered his wife to the floor, called 911 and reported that his wife had shot herself. That 911 call was made at 12:30 p.m., and Ashley Fallis was pronounced dead nearly three hours later.

"This new information includes allegations from witness accounts that we were previously unaware of . . . specifically, the allegations say that the officer omitted material statements from witnesses and that he changed at least one statement of a key witness in the case to support the conclusion of suicide," Evans Police chief Rick Brandt told ABC7 Denver.

According to ABC7 Denver, Brandt stated that no preferential treatment was given to any people of interest in the murder, including Fallis, but that the new information required the case be reopened. In a news conference in April, Ashley Fallis' family stated that they believed Tom Fallis was responsible for her murder.

"We know in our hearts that my sister was killed by Tom Fallis," Ashley's brother, Bryce Fox-Raguindin, said.