An Evanston, Wyoming, judge on Thursday said there’s enough evidence for the state to keep prosecuting a Lyman man for first-degree murder after an acquaintance was found dead with between six and 10 gunshot wounds.
Evanston Circuit Court Judge Michael Greer heard a preliminary hearing for Skyler Gray, 36, on Thursday, in which Gray’s public attorney Kent Reed Brown questioned the evidence found on scene when Jeremy Jaques, 48, was found dead at a property across from the Fort Bridger Post Office on Aug. 31.
“The court finds from the testimony there is probable cause to believe the defendant, Mr. Gray, committed the offense charged and will bind the matter over to the district court,” said Greer.
Felonies can’t be tried in Wyoming until they make it to a felony-level district court, but first they have to pass a low-level evidentiary test of probable cause at a circuit court, called a preliminary hearing.
Uinta County Deputy Attorney Michael Greenwood called Uinta County Sheriff’s Deputy Rowdy Dean to the witness stand during Thursday’s hearing.
Dean responded to the shooting call that evening at about 5:30 at a trailer-house property.
The Fort Bridger Rendezvous was happening nearby, with several visitors in the area.
Gray parked outside the property across from the post office, shouted that Jaques “owed” him, closed the distance between them and shot at Jaques six times — then another four times once Jaques was on the ground, an eyewitness said at the time, according to Dean’s testimony.
Dean said the male eyewitness was a friend of Jaques and was one of several people who called 911.
There were about 10 people who either witnessed the shooting or were close enough to warrant police interviews, the deputy indicated. Sheriff’s deputies and Lyman Police Department officers started interviewing those people, while Dean spoke to the main eyewitness and investigated the scene.
Dean didn’t recognize Jaques but identified him from a driver’s license he pulled from the dead man’s wallet and pocket, he said.
Dean said investigators found 10 shell casings on scene.
The Arrest
Gray was arrested later in the area of his Lyman home, the case affidavit says.
Brown asked about Gray’s condition during the arrest.
“So, you don’t know if … there were any marks on him?” asked Brown.
“None documented by the officers who took him into custody,” said Dean, who did not arrest Gray himself.
Investigators found a discarded Sig Sauer .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun about a mile up the road, east of the scene and off the roadway, Dean said, adding that a trace of the gun revealed Gray’s wife Shawdawn Oehler, 34, had bought it.
Brown asked how many rounds that gun holds.
Dean said he doesn’t know that model well and wasn’t sure. He later specified that it was not the 1911 model.
Brown didn't offer a closing argument to contest the charge.
First-degree murder is punishable by life in prison or the death penalty in Wyoming.
Gray’s wife was also arrested at this time on claims that she behaved as an accessory by throwing the gun out the window.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
