Shivangi Sinha
In October 2012, when Byron Griffy’s body was discovered in his Fowler, Colorado home, investigators initially considered multiple suspects. However, attention soon shifted to Anthony Wright and Charles Giebler after numerous inconsistencies emerged in the timeline they provided. As the investigation gained momentum, Charles’s unexpected death during this period raised further questions about what he knew and how much Anthony might have been involved. The case eventually centered on Anthony, whose actions and statements drew increasing scrutiny. ID’s ‘The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder’ delves into how investigators built their case against him and the charges he ultimately faced.
Anthony Wright Visited Byron Griffy on the Day The Latter Passed Away
In 1992, Anthony Wright arrived in Fowler, Colorado, accompanied by Charles Giebler, whom he introduced to locals as his half-brother. The pair claimed to share the same mother and said they had moved to the small town to build a business together. They established the Charles Anthony Funeral Home and quickly became part of the community. They also opened Smashing Good Guitars and Mainstreet Grille and Bakery in the city. Anthony often mentioned his passion for collecting valuable items and kept an extensive assortment of guns, guitars, cars, and other collectibles secured in a reinforced basement. Because of this setup, in 2011, his friend and fellow funeral home owner, Byron Griffy, trusted him enough to give his valuables for safekeeping.
Around that time, Byron began to fear that someone was attempting to break into his farmhouse, where he kept his collection of gold and silver coins, antiques, and other valuables. Anthony offered to help, but according to Byron’s daughter, Linette Griffy, her father wanted proper documentation of everything he had stored. She also alleged that whenever Byron tried contacting Anthony or Charles, neither responded. On the evening of October 12, 2012, around 8 pm, Byron’s remains were discovered in the farmhouse. He had been shot in the head, and the scene appeared cleaned, with no indication of a robbery. Both Anthony and Charles were questioned by investigators.
Anthony claimed he had gone to the farmhouse to pick Byron up for a birthday lunch around 12:30 pm. According to his account, he waited at the gate for Byron to come out, but after some time, he assumed no one was home since the door appeared closed. He said that he and Charles then left, adding that they had been driving a black Mercedes that day. By January 2013, the investigation shifted back toward Anthony and Charles, and detectives soon discovered they had lied about their relationship. Anthony’s girlfriend at the time, Laura Anderson, revealed that the two men had previously been romantic partners and were not related at all.
Anthony Wright Was Arrested After Charles Giebler’s Death
Soon, the investigation began unraveling like a Pandora’s box. Police reviewed CCTV footage and discovered that on October 12, Anthony Wright had not been driving a black Mercedes as he claimed, but a two-seater van. This contradicted his story, since such a vehicle would not make sense if he intended to pick Byron up. Linette Griffy also said that Anthony and Charles had always used the back entrance when visiting the farmhouse. Yet in his initial account, Anthony insisted he only knew the front door and left when no one answered. Combined with concerns about his lack of cooperation after receiving Byron’s coin collection, suspicions around him grew even stronger.
Amid the evolving investigation, Anthony claimed that he and Charles had not been romantically involved for years and had already separated by the time the truth emerged. He further alleged that Charles, upset about his relationship with Laura, revealed their past as an act of revenge. Several individuals later reported that in early January 2013, Charles had called them saying police were about to arrest him and that it was inevitable. On January 25, 2013, Charles died from coronary artery disease, with no signs of foul play. Shortly after, Anthony was charged with first-degree murder in Byron’s death.
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Anthony was arrested and taken to the county jail, where his bail was set at $250,000. He posted the amount and was released. His trial began in July 2015 but ended in a mistrial. Throughout the proceedings, Anthony maintained that he had no knowledge of Byron Griffy’s death or of Charles Giebler’s involvement. In January 2017, he pleaded guilty to accessory to first-degree murder, later stating that his attorney advised him that retrials rarely favor defendants and that he felt he had no choice despite claiming innocence. He received a 10-year probation sentence, set to conclude in 2027. Anthony and his wife, Laura Wright, have been living in Colorado since marrying in January 2013.
