FOUNTAIN — A former deputy who asked twice for protection against a woman he’d been in a relationship with for 13 years has been shot and killed in a Fountain home following a domestic quarrel, according to BCSO investigative reports.
Cheryl Gay Hundley, 56, was arrested and charged with an open count of murder Monday after an early-morning shooting that left former deputy Sam Walter Denham, 60, with a gunshot wound to the chest. Denham died from his wounds shortly after being rushed to a local hospital for treatment. Hundley was later charged with his death after investigators learned the two had allegedly been in a verbal altercation when she shot Denham, BCSO reported.
Deputies and EMS responded at about 5:15 a.m. Monday to the home at 12406 Silver Lake Road in Fountain. Hundley had called to report the shooting. When deputies arrived, Denham lay inside the home shot once in the chest.
--- DOCUMENT: DENHAM COMPLAINT AGAINST HUNDLEY
Investigators believe the couple was involved in a verbal altercation when Hundley shot Denham. Denham was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short while later.
A light rain fell shortly after noon on the home, a quaint three-bedroom house that faces one of the neighborhood’s few paved streets. BCSO investigators had cleared the scene by then as neighbors began swapping bits of information in an effort to determine what might’ve taken place.
One woman, who did not want to be identified, said she had not seen anything or heard gunfire that morning. However, it was not unusual to hear the report of a firearm from the home since Denham would often hunt squirrels, she said. She added it also was not unusual to hear Denham and Hundley in an argument.
Both were residents of the home in Fountain and had been in a relationship for about 13 years, BCSO said.
According to court records, Denham had filed in March for an injunction for protection against domestic violence. He reported that he felt like his life was in imminent danger at the hands of Hundley.
“She has a .38 Spec. (Smith & Wesson) and has threatened me a number of times with it,” Denham wrote. “… Cheryl has anger problems. I fear for my health and well being. She has in the past (threatened) to shoot me. Please help me before this escalates. Please get me away from (this) person.”
The petition was denied based on the finding that Denham did not include enough facts concerning the threats he alleged had been made against him.
“… Threats alone do not constitute acts of domestic violence,” the order stated.
Denham moved to a property jointly owned by the couple on Gowan Road and returned to the court with a letter from his psychologist, claiming mental distress; a supplemental affidavit, claiming BCSO responded to his home after Hundley struck him on the face and he declined to press charges; and a letter to the judge from a Salvation Army dependency court advocate, pleading for help.
“I know victims and … Denham could change his mind but I would much rather go out on a limb for him than not and see something horrible happen,” wrote Pamela Martin, of the Salvation Army. “I would not take up your time unless I felt he was in danger.”
However, the case was dismissed at the beginning of April due to insufficient evidence, according to court records.
--- DOCUMENT: DENHAM COMPLAINT AGAINST HUNDLEY
On the night before the shooting, BCSO reported that officers had responded to Silver Lake Road to a call that Hundley had allegedly stolen Denham’s cellphone. Officials said Denham had gone over to the home to retrieve the phone when an argument ensued and Hundley allegedly shot him.
Hundley was taken to Bay County Jail Monday and charged with an open count of murder to await first appearance.
Denham had retired from BCSO about three years ago. He had been a deputy for 26 years prior.