Baxstrom, 39, is accused of attempted murder as an act of domestic violence against Kristi Roundtree, 38, on the night of Aug. 15, 2015.
According to prosecutors and to Roundtree’s testimony on Tuesday, he shot her with a shotgun at the cabin near Hartman Draw.
In opening arguments on Tuesday, prosecuting District Attorney Will Furse argued that there had been a pattern of abuse in Baxstrom’s relationship with Roundtree, including an incident in November 2014 when Baxstrom had hit her on the head with a pistol. Before shooting Roundtree on Aug. 15, Furse said, Baxtrom dragged her out of a car and repeatedly hit her, telliong her to “just go out.”
“There is no doubt Baxstrom wanted to kill her,” Furse said.
Roundtree was discovered late Aug. 15 covered in blood and dirt and with injuries to her face, head, arms and back, according to a report by Montezuma County Sheriff’s Deputy Donnie Brown. She said Baxstrom tried to kill her, according to the report.
Defense attorney Christian Hatfield argued Tuesday that Baxstrom acted in self-defense after Roundtree hit him in the face with a .22-caliber pistol. She had a history of psychological problems and drug use, he said.
“Ty’s story is simple,” Hatfield said. “He acted in self-defense and did nothing wrong.”
Shotgun shells found at the scene don’t match Baxstrom’s guns, Hatfield said. He was not drunk, and he was cooperative with officers who responded to the scene, he said.
Roundtree, who had been married to Baxstrom for four years, testified Tuesday that on the day of the Aug. 15 shooting, Baxstrom had prepared to move several of her belongings out of the cabin at Hartman Draw. Emotionally upset, she said, she walked away from the cabin down the road with the couple’s 3-year-old child in an effort to avoid an argument with Baxstrom. She returned about dusk, and the altercation began, she said.
After apparently being shot, Roundtree rolled down a nearby creek embankment, where she waited for several hours, she said. She then walked to a neighbor’s house, and the neighbor called 911, she said.
Roundtree filed for divorce from Baxstrom after the November 2014 incident, and asked for a protection order. However, the couple decided not to divorce and to work things out between them, she said.
A jury was seated Monday after a full-day selection process, and testimony continued through the week. District Court Judge Todd Plewe is presiding over the case. District Attorney Furse and assistant DA Sean Murray are prosecuting the case, and defense attorney Hatfield is representing Baxstrom.
