A supposedly relaxing getaway

On March 28, 2001, the Wells went to Colorado, in the ranch they had been leasing in Lincoln County near Punkin Center, for a relaxing getaway. They brought some guns for some target shooting, and Mike set up some paper target stapled to some hay bale. Their 6-year-old son, Tanner, asked his dad if he could use an adult gun. Mike gave his permission.

The fatal gunshot

Moments later, Mike went to his pickup truck to retrieve a chipmunk he had placed there. While Mike was away, Jill was already concentrating on a target with her own gun, while Tanner was struggling with his big gun. At 1:45 p.m. Tanner had managed to cock the gun and pull its trigger. After the gun cracked, Jill suddenly fell on the ground, lifeless, with a gunshot wound just above her right ear.