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General manager, prep cook identified as 2 killed at American Elm restaurant in northwest Denver; police seeking leads

Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales

Emerall Vaughn-Dahler, left, and Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales were found dead Monday at a business in the 4100-block of West 38th Street in Denver. Police are investigating their deaths as homicides.

Courtesy of Crime Stoppers

Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales

Emerall Vaughn-Dahler, left, and Ignacio “Nacho” Gutierrez Morales were found dead Monday at a business in the 4100-block of West 38th Street in Denver. Police are investigating their deaths as homicides.






Denver police have identified two people killed Monday at the American Elm restaurant in the West Highland neighborhood and are asking for the public’s help solving the crime.

Police said Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio “Nacho” Gutierrez Morales were killed inside the business, located near North Raleigh Street and West 38th Avenue in northwest Denver.

Authorities did not provide the victims’ ages, but a fundraising page said Vaughn-Dahler was 34 and Gutierrez Morales was 58.   

Vaughn-Dahler is listed at the restaurant’s general manager on American Elm’s website.

Police first announced the death investigation just before 1 p.m. Monday, then updated at 3:30 p.m. that it was a double homicide investigation.

No details have been released about what led to the deaths.

GoFundMe started for homicide victims

A image from the GoFundMe page for Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales who were killed Monday. Denver Police are investigating their deaths as a homicide.

GoFundMe

GoFundMe started for homicide victims

A image from the GoFundMe page for Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio “Nacho” Gutierrez Morales who were killed Monday. Denver Police are investigating their deaths as a homicide.






American Elm on Monday announced it would be closed the remainder of the week.

“The American Elm team is completely devastated by today’s tragic events,” the company said in a statement Monday. “We are focused on providing our staff mental health support and will be closed for the rest of the week. We are cooperating fully with the Denver Police Department in their ongoing investigation and will not be providing any further comment at this time out of respect for the families and loved ones involved.”

A Go Fund Me account had been set up to support the victims and their families.

The page said Vaughn-Dahler is survived by her son, Michael, age 12, and husband, Andrew.

Born in St. Johns, Arizona, Vaughn-Dahler grew up in St. Johns, San Diego and Arvada, according to the fundraising page.

The page said she spent her career in the Denver hospitality scene and she joined the American Elm Team in June 2021 as a server.

“Through hard work and dedication, (she) quickly rose to become General Manager. She was earnest, hard working and compassionate, had a kind and gentle spirit. Above all she was a loving mother, selfless and accepting of all, no judgements,” the page said. 

The page said Gutierrez Morales, who was born in Puebla, Mexico was “extremely well-respected” in Denver’s culinary community, and that he worked at Guard and Grace and Highland Tavern before coming to American Elm as a prep cook. 

“He is survived by his 3 children who all love him very much (Cinthia 36 years-old; Johnathan 32 years-old; and Alex 18 years-old). Nacho was very caring, humble and loved by many. If he had a chance to help someone he was always there. He was quiet and always there to listen,” the page said. 

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for up to a $2,000 reward.

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