Alexander Jacob Tower, known to his friends and family as Alex, was a man remembered for his respectful, affectionate, and sweet nature. Born on October 27, 1976, in Rockford, Illinois, the 37-year-old was the youngest of four children and a beloved son, brother, and uncle. Alex graduated from Auburn High School in Rockford in 1994 and later earned a degree in anthropology from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 2000. He was an adventurous spirit who loved snowboarding, listening to live music, and spending time at the beach. For many years, he lived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with his brother, sharing adventures and making memories. At the time of his death, he was living in Denver with his cherished miniature pinscher, Lupe.
The holiday season of 2013 took a tragic turn when Alex was found murdered in his own home. On December 26, the day after Christmas, Denver Police officers were dispatched to his residence at 1969 Trenton Street around 3:15 p.m.
on what was initially reported as a burglary. Inside the home, they made a grim discovery. Alex and another man, 39-year-old Francisco Gutierrez, were found deceased. The Denver coroner’s office would later confirm that both men had been victims of a homicide; Alex died from a single gunshot wound to the head, while Francisco had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The Denver Police Department’s Homicide Unit immediately launched an investigation into the double murder. Detectives went door-to-door in the quiet neighborhood, speaking with residents, but neighbors reported hearing no gunshots or any unusual disturbances. Alex’s landlord, who said he had been a good renter for four years, was shocked by the violence that had occurred at the property where nothing unusual had ever happened. Police assured the public that they believed the killings were an isolated incident and there was not a random killer at large.
Investigators worked to retrace the final days of both men. They determined that Alex and Francisco were last seen together in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 22, 2013, at approximately 2 a.m. at an unidentified nightclub in downtown Denver. Four days would pass before their bodies were discovered. Police publicly appealed for information, asking anyone who had seen or had contact with either man between December 21 and December 26 to come forward. A friend of Alex’s described him to reporters as a trusting person, a poignant detail in the context of his violent death.
In the weeks that followed, the investigation struggled to gain momentum. In early January 2014, a Denver Police spokesman confirmed that despite issuing a crime alert and receiving some tips, there had been no significant breaks in the case. The investigation was described as "very open," with authorities declining to speculate on potential suspects or whether the killer or killers were known to the victims. The police were focused on understanding the men's activities in the days leading up to their deaths, hoping a detail might emerge that could point to a motive or a suspect.
Years have now passed, and the double homicide of Alexander Tower and Francisco Gutierrez remains unsolved. No arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The promising life of a man who loved his family, his dog, and the outdoors was cut tragically short, leaving behind a painful void and a case that has grown cold. For his parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and many friends, the questions of who was responsible and why still linger without answers. The case remains an open investigation with the Denver Police Department. A reward of up to $2,000 was offered for information, and anyone with knowledge about this crime is urged to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867).
