Community members made a memorial for Keaton Griffith on Monday in Buckley Park. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)
Community members made a memorial for Keaton Griffith on Monday in Buckley Park. (Reuben M. Schafir/Durango Herald)cca

A 29-year-old La Plata County resident was found dead Monday at a home north of Durango in the Animas Valley.

It appears Keaton Griffith died from suicide, La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith confirmed Tuesday.

An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.

Griffith was an active member of the Durango Palestinian Solidarity Coalition and other activist groups in Durango.

A memorial site sprang up Monday in Buckley Park, which included many tokens of remembrance. Friends remembered Griffith in sidewalk chalk writings as a “beacon of hope in a sea of uncertainty” and expressed gratitude for their friendship with the passionate activist.

Keaton Griffith displays a sign that says, “Your silence is deafening” at a March 5 Durango City Council meeting. (Courtesy of Ellie Porter)
Keaton Griffith displays a sign that says, “Your silence is deafening” at a March 5 Durango City Council meeting. (Courtesy of Ellie Porter)

“Keaton is brave, bold, kind, proud, courageous, fierce, strong, determined, inspiring, loved, vibrant,” one colorful sidewalk memorial read.

Griffith’s death is at least the second suicide this month in La Plata County.

For help

Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering suicide can be found from these sources:
Axis Health System:
24-hour hotline at 247-5245.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
Call or text 988
RED Nacional de Prevención Del Suicidio:
(888) 628-9454.
National Crisis text hotline:
741741
Boys Town Hotline:
(800) 448-3000.
Safe2Tell Colorado:
(877) 542-7233 or online at

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Colorado Crisis Support Line:
(844) 493-8255. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths about any crisis.
Second Wind Fund:
(720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline, but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental-health professional.

According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide is a pervasive public health issue and is among the leading causes of death for people ages 10 to 14 and 20 to 34. Resources for those impacted by suicide are available through the Grief Center of Southwest Colorado or on the La Plata County Public Health website.

Anyone in crisis or contemplating suicide should call Axis Health System crisis line at 247-5245 or can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

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