Businesses Band Together to Raise Funds for American Elm Homicide Victims on May 1

Over thirty restaurants, breweries and more will raise funds for the families of the two employees murdered at the Denver restaurant on April 24.

By Molly Martin

May 1, 2023

Image: General manager Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and prep cook Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales were murdered on April 24.

General manager Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and prep cook Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales were murdered on April 24. GoFundMe

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On April 24, two employees of American Elm, a restaurant located at 4132 West 38th Avenue, were murdered while working. Police are asking for the public's help to solve the crime, and a GoFundMe has been set up to support the families of the victims, who were identified as general manager Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and prep cook Ignacio "Nacho" Gutierrez Morales.

The incident has shaken the tight-knit culinary community, and now businesses are coming together to help raise more money for the GoFundMe campaign.

On Monday, May 1, over thirty Colorado restaurants, breweries, bakeries and more will be at Hops & Pie (3920 Tennyson Street) with donated food, beer and baked goods for a buffet-style meal. A $50 donation to the GoFundMe is the entrance fee; kids will be admitted free.

Participating businesses that are donating food include Hops & Pie, Smash & Grab Burgers, El Camino, Legacy Pie, Bakery Four, Cholon, Il Porcellino, Atomic Cowboy, El Chingon, Glo, Fire on the Mountain and Jovanina’s Broken Italian.

Beer will be provided courtesy of Our Mutual Friend, Westbound & Down, Station 26, Bierstadt, Call to Arms, Public Offering, Emporium, Cerebral, FlyteCo and Cohesion breweries.

Other contributors include Shamrock Foods, Elite Brands, Classic Wines, Ball Corporation and Novum Construction Group.

There will also be music by Jocelyn Skorka and a silent auction with items from Novum Construction Group, Post Oak BBQ, Small Batch Liquors, Monkey Fist Tattoo and more.

Molly Martin has been the Food & Drink editor at Westword since 2021. Prior to joining the staff, Molly reported on the Denver dining scene for more than a decade and contributed to Thrillist. At Westword, Molly monitors restaurant openings and closings, offers dining recommendations and reports on Denver-area food news and trends. She also publishes such annual lists as Top 100 Bars and Top 100 Restaurants, and contributes to the yearly Best of Denver edition. In 2023, she was recognized with the Colorado Restaurant Association's Outstanding Media Professional award.

A message from Molly Martin: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Denver’s evolving dining scene and the latest culinary innovations our community offers.

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