Longtime Bishop bartender dies
Domestic assault may have been cause of death.
Julie Thorpe, long-time bartender at Rusty’s Saloon and McMurry’s Bar in Bishop, died on January 14 after being life-flighted to Reno, Nevada. Thorpe, 61, was transferred to Reno after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke.
Thorpe’s death may have been the result of an altercation on Tuesday, January 5 with ex-boyfriend Raymond Vidal Gutierrez. According to the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, Gutierrez spent 11-years with the California Department of Corrections for felony domestic abuse and false imprisonment charges. More recently he served time in Inyo County Jail on a local warrant from 2004 for a felony weapons charge and probation violation. He was released from County Jail on January 5.
Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received notification of a domestic disturbance on that same day at 9 p.m. According to the Sheriff’s Department report, Thorpe said she had been assaulted at the intersection of Winuba and Diaz, west of Bishop, by Gutierrez. Gutierrez was not located at the scene.
Julie Thorpe. Photo courtesy: Facebook.
Bishop Police eventually located Gutierreze at approximately 3:00 a.m. at Denny’s restaurant and placed him under arrest. He was transported to the Inyo County Jail and booked under felony violation of parole (no bail), and felony domestic abuse.
Inyo County District Attorney Tom Hardy said that Thorpe’s autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21 in Orange County.
“I know that her family is convinced there is a link [between the assault and her death], but we need the results from the medical examiner before we can make any further decisions,” Hardy said.
Inyo County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Carma Roper said that “a death investigation for the Sheriff’s Office would take place if the autopsy revealed that the cause of death was due to the injuries sustained during the physical altercation on January 5.”
In the days after her death, friends remembered Thorpe as a badass who beat cancer; as a cowgirl who loved horses; as a woman full of life.
“One hell of a lady,” Dixie Stewart said from a barstool at Rusty’s.
“The only one that could control Robby James is Julie and Garrett Spoonhunter,” said Jim Cashbaugh, owner of Rusty’s and Julie’s employer for nearly 20 years.
A McMurray’s Bar bartender had no comment until interviews with investigators were complete.
A memorial service will be held for Thorpe on Jan. 31.
