Affidavit: El Paso County man planned wife’s killing in advance before turning himself in

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- An arrest affidavit is revealing what happened before a man reportedly brought the body of his wife to the El Paso County jail before he turned himself over to authorities.

Court documents show that 51-year-old David Mitchell walked into the jail lobby Friday, June 24, and told deputies his wife's body was still in his truck. When deputies approached Mitchell's silver truck, they found a deceased woman in the front passenger seat. 

On Monday, the El Paso County Coroner's Office identified the victim as 44-year-old Melody Horton from El Paso County.

Investigators believe Mitchell shot his wife four or five times after picking her up from her home on Friday. According to the affidavit, the shooting happened around 100 yards away from the home, and Mitchell used a 9mm pistol he had purchased more than a year ago.

Mitchell told investigators he had been unemployed for the last year and a half, and his wife was upset about unpaid child support. Due to the stress caused by this and other financial issues, Mitchell allegedly told investigators that he started planning on killing his wife one day before the shooting on Friday.

After the shooting, the affidavit says Mitchell made his way to the El Paso County Jail where Mitchell told investigators that he struggled with what to do next. He eventually decided to go inside the El Paso County Jail and turn himself in. 

Mitchell is currently in the El Paso County Jail on a single count of first-degree murder. After his first court appearance last week, a judge denied the defendant bond.

13 Investigates reached out to Mitchell's attorneys. We are waiting on a response.