On June 18, some in Nucla might have noticed a disturbance in the community, since a number of law enforcement appeared to be conducting serious business.
On June 19, Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard sent a press release to the San Miguel Basin Forum about the cause of the commotion. Last Tuesday, a woman, Tracy Totty, who was wanted for vehicular homicide in Memphis, Tennessee, was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Nucla.
On Sept. 29, 2022, two pedestrians, who happened to be doing construction-type work, were struck and killed in a vehicle crash near N. White Station and Sequoia Avenue in Memphis. Later, on Aug. 4, 2023, Totty, age 67, was indicted for the two deaths and charged with vehicular homicide-intoxication, aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular homicide-reckless.
But, she apparently went missing afterward.
“The case was adopted for a fugitive matter by the USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Memphis,” the sheriff’s office press release said. “The TRVFTF developed information that Totty was in Nucla, Colorado, and provided investigative leads to the USMS Colorado Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force (COVOFTF). Investigators with the COVOFTF located Totty at a residence in Nucla and took her into custody.”
Last week, the press release said Totty was awaiting extradition back to Tennessee.
The COVOFTF was assisted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Lillard confirmed with the San Miguel Basin Forum that the woman had been living in the West End since she fled Tennessee. He also said the initial warrant was issued on Aug. 4, 2023.
“United States Marshals tracked her to the 500 block of Lincoln street,” Lillard said. “Montrose County Sergeant Dan Taylor assisted the U.S. Marshals, trying to get her out of the residence by negotiating with a male that was in the residence. U.S. Marshals tried to get her to surrender by talking to her over their public address system in their vehicles with no luck.”
Lillard added they next deployed a distraction device, “aka flash bang, and the suspect Tracy Ann Totty, age 67, surrendered without further incident.”
Lillard said Totty was cooperative after being taken into custody. He confirmed she was transported to the Montrose County Jail and held on a “no bond order” from Tennessee.
“We have had very good working relationships with the U.S. Marshal's Office, as well as the U.S. Postal Service and CBI,” Lillard said. “Agent Bunn from the U.S. Marshal's Office thanked the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office for the assistance. We were more than glad to oblige by taking a vehicular homicide suspect into custody.”
West End Commander Bruce Schmalz did not work the case, but did read through the report.
“Everything went as good as it possibly could have,” Schmalz said.
He added he didn’t think anyone in the local area knew the truth of who Totty was or that she was in hiding.
