Robert Lee Sowarsh was a male ranch hand and driver for the McCormick family on a large ranch near Stratton in Kit Carson County, Colorado. Tensions reportedly grew over alleged infidelity and a money dispute after Sowarsh believed he was owed cash kept on the ranch. According to Michael McCormick’s account, his father Tom discovered Sowarsh’s intention to take the money; Michael said they captured and bound Sowarsh and that he was then killed in a prolonged, torturous manner.

In February 1986 Michael began cooperating with investigators and led them to several shallow graves on the McCormick property. One of those graves contained Sowarsh’s body. Michael’s testimony implicated his father in multiple murders but was described as inconsistent, which complicated prosecutors’ efforts to secure convictions against Tom McCormick for the ranch slayings.

Are there witnesses or neighbors who remember Sowarsh at the ranch or any details about his last days that could shed light on what happened?