Mother in Colorado faces murder charge after 173 bottles discovered in room

Mother Charged in Daughter’s Alcohol-Related Death

A mother from Colorado faces serious charges after her 16-year-old daughter tragically died from alcohol-related causes. Prosecutors have stated that the girl consumed alcohol until her death, with a staggering 173 empty alcohol bottles discovered hidden in her bedroom.

Gretchen Leanne Ryan, 55, has been charged with second-degree murder, as confirmed by the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Her daughter was named Grace Elizabeth Ryan in her obituary.

Grace was found unresponsive in their Arvada home on March 9, following a call to authorities. Initial autopsy results indicated she had a notably fatty liver for someone her age, suggesting a significant history of alcohol use. Ultimately, her cause of death was ruled as aspiration pneumonia linked to chronic alcohol consumption.

In recent years, there has been a worrying trend with alcohol-related deaths, especially among women, seeing a more than twofold increase.

According to prosecutors, both mother and daughter frequently engaged in heavy drinking together, and they communicated nearly every day about buying alcohol, starting from September 2025. Text messages revealed that Ryan had arranged for regular deliveries of alcohol to their home, even taking steps to keep the daughter’s drinking hidden from her father, who mostly lived in the basement.

Despite her daughter’s evident health issues, Ryan continued to provide her with alcohol. The texts suggested serious symptoms, including vomiting and difficulty walking, which stemmed from excessive drinking.

It was reported that Grace had voiced her fears about her drinking habits and her declining health to her mother. Just the night before her death, she indicated she was feeling unwell in a message sent to Ryan.

During the police investigation, authorities uncovered 173 empty bottles in Grace’s bedroom, including a variety of brands of vodka and other hard liquors. This incident highlights disturbing behaviors; the young girl had been expelled from high school earlier in April 2025, switching to online classes due to alcohol consumption. At the time of her death, she had barely completed a semester of ninth grade and had disengaged from any activities outside the home for months.