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Slain Woman's Family: Justice In Husband's Arrest

LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4) - A former Weld County sheriff's deputy has been arrested in connection to the death of his wife nearly three years ago.

Thomas Fallis, 34, was taken into custody at his home in Bloomington, Ind., Tuesday morning where he was living with his children.

Ashley Fallis
Ashley Fallis (credit: CBS)

Family and friends of Ashley Fallis claim she was killed two years ago and that the crime was covered up by an Evans police officer. The official cause of Fallis' death on Jan. 1, 2012, was a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home.

Fallis' family members claim Thomas Fallis had something to do with the death and that statements from key witnesses were omitted or changed from the original police report, including a statement from Ashley's 6-year-old daughter.

The indictment says Thomas Fallis became angry during a New Year's party hosted by the couple, and later fought with Ashley over smoking before getting a gun and killing her.

Michael Rourke with the Weld County District Attorney's Office said the new charges come from new evidence and witness testimony.

"Part of the new evidence does involve some additional witnesses that either weren't known or hadn't made statements previously," Rourke said.

Fallis' attorney released a statement that read in part: "Mr. Fallis is innocent. He deeply loves his wife and did not kill her."

Ashley Fallis Family
Ashley Fallis's family at a news conference on April 10, 2014 (credit: CBS)

Ashley Fallis' family laid out their suspicions at a news conference in Denver in April. They say they've never felt Ashley killed herself and say they believe she died at the hands of her husband and that a fellow law enforcement officer in the same community helped him cover it up.

"We know in our hearts that my sister was killed by Tom Fallis," said Ashley Fallis' brother, Bryce Fox-Raguindin, in April. They were unavailable for comment on Tuesday.

Neighbors also say they heard Thomas Fallis claim that he shot his wife on the night of New Year's Eve.

Police in Loveland conducted an independent investigation into alleged criminal violations involving Evans Police Officer Michael Yates for his participation in Fallis' death investigation. They have concluded there is not enough evidence to support criminal charges against Yates in the death investigation.

Ashley Fallis Protest
Joel Raguindin, Ashley Flallis' father, and Jenna Fox, Ashley's mother during a protest over the investigation in May (credit: CBS)

Cpt. Joe Qualters with the Bloomington Police Department in Indiana confirmed to CBS4 that Thomas Fallis was taken into custody Tuesday morning without incident. He said their department was made aware of the murder indictment against Thomas Fallis Monday night. He could face extradition to Colorado within a week.

A Facebook page in Ashley's memory was updated Tuesday to proclaim justice in the case.

"The family is happy that the wheels of justice are turning finally, and they certainly hope that he gets convicted of murder and goes to prison," family attorney Dan Recht said.

Ashley was the director of the Colorado Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. Her family is fighting for custody of her children.

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