A bomb squad was called to Newcastle on Monday after homemade explosive devices were discovered at a city cemetery — then had to turn around and come back after another suspicious device was found behind a nearby convenience store.
The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad was called at about 10:30 a.m. after Newcastle police received a report of suspicious items at Greenwood Cemetery, Lt. Dan Maul with the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office told Cowboy State Daily.
The caller, who has not been named, believed the devices were “bottle bombs” — homemade explosives constructed using small plastic bottles and containers, according to a statement from the Newcastle Police Department.
The bomb squad was shown one device that had already been destroyed and found a second device that required what Maul called a “render safe operation.”
“They made it inert and not able to function,” Maul said.
He declined to explain exactly how the bomb squad disabled the device, citing safety concerns.
The device was turned over to Newcastle police for further investigation.
Called Back
The bomb squad had finished its work at the cemetery and was headed back to Gillette when its members learned another suspicious device had been reported behind the Loaf n Jug, less than a half-mile from Greenwood Cemetery.
They turned around.
Loaf n Jug manager Shane Vargas was taking out the trash when he noticed a flurry of police activity behind the store Monday.
Officers told him not to go behind the building and informed him explosive devices were found at the cemetery earlier in the day, he said.
Vargas said he wasn't particularly frightened.
“I don’t get scared easily,” he told Cowboy State Daily.
He was, however, curious.
“I kept wondering about what they found,” Vargas said. “I was hoping to hear more.”
Maul described what was found behind the Loaf n Jug only as a “small device.”
He could not confirm whether the explosives found at the two locations were connected, whether they were made by the same person, or whether investigators have identified any suspects.
No one from the Newcastle Police Department or Weston County Sheriff’s Office returned Cowboy State Daily’s messages before publication.
The devices and other evidence were turned over to local law enforcement.
‘Certainly Dangerous’
Although homemade explosives might not sound as intimidating as more sophisticated devices, Maul said the bomb squad treats reports of them seriously.
“Any type of explosive is certainly dangerous,” he said.
And responding to explosives in a cemetery was unusual – even for a bomb squad.
Maul said he could not recall the Campbell County team ever being called to a cemetery to investigate an explosive device.
Maul said he could not speculate as to why explosives were planted at the historic Newcastle cemetery.
“That was just the area they chose for whatever reason,” he said.
Greenwood Cemetery is operated by the city of Newcastle. Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Amber Redo said the city clerk’s office did not have additional information about Monday’s incident.
Not Newcastle’s First Bottle Bombs
Monday's discovery comes about a year and a half after Newcastle police dealt with another batch of homemade explosives.
In April 2025, police discovered devices made from soda bottles containing material authorities said appeared consistent with what are commonly called “bottle bombs,” “Draino bombs” or “works bombs.” The explosive devices were found on Newcastle’s Carter Avenue.
In that case, Newcastle police consulted with the Campbell County Bomb Squad and ultimately shot the devices to neutralize them.
How authorities deal with a homemade explosive depends heavily on where it is found and the danger it presents to people nearby, Maul said.
A device in an isolated location might safely be allowed to detonate, while that may not be an option in a populated area.
The Campbell County Bomb Squad serves a five-county region encompassing Campbell, Crook, Weston, Johnson and Sheridan counties.
Last year, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office received approval for a $344,971 State Homeland Security Grant Program award to upgrade the bomb squad's aging equipment.
Capt. Kevin Theis told county officials at the time that the money would help modernize equipment used by the regional team.
Monday's incidents remain under investigation.
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
