Legendary Big Mountain Skier Dean Cummings Charged With Murder

Photo Credit: Court Leve

Dean Cummings, 54, has been charged with first-degree murder, tampering of evidence and identity concealment in San Luis, New Mexico as of February, 29th 2020. According to Sandoval County Police, Cummings called 911 on Saturday to report that local Guillermo Arriola had assaulted him with burning chemicals and thus pulling the trigger in self-defense. However, police say there was no sign of struggle and no other firearms present besides his AR-15 which laid upon the stairs of the residence. While detained in an interview around 1 a.m. Cummings told the investigators he changed his clothes to get the chemicals off his body and left the clothing on the tailgate of his vehicle as he fled the property. The court documents indicate that can of pepper spray was identified but didn’t appear to be used.

Photo Credit: Dean Cummings Youtube Channel

In 1995, Cummings founded H20 Heli Adventures and ever since has been guiding in Alaska’s finest and most remote big-mountain skiing destination, the Chugach Mountain Range. Cummings is a highly touted world-class skier with over 200 first descents and many titles under his belt including; 1995 World Extreme Skiing Championship, Powder’s Line of the Year,  1991 Rocky Mountain Mogul Champion.

Although a New Mexico native himself, Cummings hasn’t been back to his home state in years. He claimed he was trying to purchase property where the shooting took place, but the motive remains unclear. Dean Cummings, one of the most revered big mountain skiers of all time, is being held in Sandoval County Jail without bail. As of March 9th, Chief Judge George P. Eichwald has released an order granting ‘state expedited motion for preventative detention’ for the open count of murder in the first-degree.

More updates to come.