Crime and Courts Reporter

Clair McFarland

Clair McFarland is a general assignment reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Riverton, Wyoming. She specializes in crime and court reporting and social issues coverage. Clair also writes a twice-monthly column on motherhood and country living.

Previously, Clair wrote for The Ranger, the Lander Journal and the Wind River News. She is an award-winning journalist, columnist and poet, who joined Cowboy State Daily on Valentine's Day, 2022.

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Latest from Clair McFarland

In a scathing court filing Wednesday, Campbell County denies wrongdoing in the 2023 firing of the former library director Terri Lesley, who is suing. The county says her claims are full of bogus “self-praise” and paint an inaccurate “self-heroic tale.”

Sued By Ousted Library Director, Campbell County Says She's No LGBTQ Hero

In a scathing court filing Wednesday, Campbell County denies wrongdoing in the 2023 firing of the local library director, who is suing. The county says her claims are full of bogus “self-praise” and that she's no LGBTQ hero.

Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Austin King, left, with his father, Brian King-Henke

Massive Recovery Mission Planned For Yellowstone Hiker Who Vanished 10 Months Ago

A team of private-sector outdoorsmen and another of Yellowstone National Park personnel and volunteers are preparing missions next month to recover Austin King. He’s the 22-year-old hiker who vanished after summiting Eagle Peak last September.

Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Accused Serial Killer Suspected Of Murdering 2 Women In Wyoming Dies In Tennessee

Clark Perry Baldwin, a convicted murderer and suspected serial killer linked to the deaths of two women in Wyoming, died Friday in Tennessee. His death leaves a Wyoming prosecutor frustrated he won’t stand trial here for the decades-old murders.

Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

More than $9 billion in federal clawbacks — including $1.1 billion in cuts for PBS and NPR — has to hit President Donald Trump’s desk by Friday. It’s part of a rule that requires Congress to act withing 45 days of the president asking for clawbacks.

Friday Or Bust: House Under Legal Deadline For PBS, NPR Cuts

The U.S. House of Representatives has a legal deadline of Friday at 11:59 p.m. to vote on the proposed $1.1 billion in cuts to public television and radio. Wyoming's congressional delegation is firmly in favor of the cuts.

Sean Barry & Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Wyoming leaders announced Thursday they’re challenging a judge’s order that blocks the state’s new school-choice program. They’re taking their appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court, a move Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder applauds.

Degenfelder Fighting Judge's Block On School Choice Program

Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder announced Thursday the State of Wyoming is challenging a judge’s order that blocks the state’s new school-choice program. “I am grateful for the Attorney General’s swift action,” Degenfelder said.

Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2025

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak talks about the new mental health pods at the Laramie County Detention Center, describing how a significant number of inmates have serious mental problems but the jail didn't have an adequate place to hold them.

Laramie County Jail To Open Wyoming’s First In-House Mental Health Sections

Nearly half of the inmates in the Laramie County jail have some sort of mental illness, and about 11% are “extremely” ill. That’s why the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office created Wyoming’s first in-house jail pods specifically for mentally ill inmates.

Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2025

‘I-90’ Jane Doe, Suspected Victim Of Serial Killer, Identified After 33 Years

A young, petite, pregnant woman found dead with beating and strangulation injuries 33 years ago in a borrow ditch 15 miles north of Sheridan has been identified as Cindi Arleen Estrada. She’s one of two alleged Wyoming victims of an accused serial killer.

Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2025

With “aye” votes from Wyoming’s two U.S. senators, a recissions bill scheduled to claw back around $1.1 billion from publicly funded media, which stands to impact outlets like NPR and PBS, cleared a committee Tuesday with a Friday deadline to get to Trump.

Wyoming Senators Say Their Votes To Defund Public Media Due To Left-Wing Bias

In statements and interviews with Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday, Sens. Lummis and Barrasso said their votes for massive cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are warranted because of what they call a left-wing bias of its public media outlets.

Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2025

Man Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting ID'd As 37-Year-Old Worland Resident

The man killed in an officer-involved shooting Monday in Worland was 37-year-old Derek Fyffe, the coroner confirmed Wednesday. He reportedly shot at officers as they approached him near a bridge, who returned fire.

Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2025

Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder

Wyoming Judge Blocks School-Choice Program, This Time For Months

A Wyoming judge on Tuesday blocked Wyoming's school-choice program from going into effect, for a period of months or years during a legal challenge against it. The program is likely unconstitutional, wrote the judge.

Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2025

Now A Legislative Committee Investigating Weston County Clerk's Election Errors

The Management Audit Committee is forming a task force to investigate the Weston County clerk's handling of the 2024 election, where multiple errors warped uncontested races. Secretary of State Chuck Gray applauds the move, while others question it.

Clair McFarlandJuly 16, 2025

A man is dead and an officer wounded after a Monday shootout on a bridge in Worldand, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Worland Police Department confirmed Tuesday. The officer sustained non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.

One Man Dead, Officer Wounded In Shootout With Police In Worland

A man is dead and an officer wounded after a Monday shootout on a bridge in Worland, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Worland Police Department confirmed Tuesday. The officer sustained non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.

Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2025

Other Authors

Debra Laramore-Fenton, mother of Buck Laramore, who was killed in a shootout with a Thermopolis police officer, holds a sign memorializing her son at a protest. A special prosecutor determined that while the officer, Sgt. Mike Mascorrow, was justified in shooting Laramore, he did so after entering his house illegally.

Former Thermopolis Police Sergeant Claims He Can't Be Sued For Fatal Shootout

A former Thermopolis police sergeant in a Monday court filing denied any wrongdoing in a fatal April 2023 shootout that left a local man dead. Former Sgt. Mike Mascorro also says he's protected by qualified immunity, therefore can't be sued.

Clair McFarlandJuly 15, 2025

Man Gets 4.5 Years For Stealing $14M In Gold And Silver From 90-Year-Old Dad

A 61-year-old New Zealand man was sentenced Monday to 4-4.5 years in a Wyoming prison after stealing $14 million in gold and silver from his 90-year-old father’s house in Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2025

Man Killed In Pinedale Alley Was Shot From 2-3 Feet Away

The Sublette County Coroner confirmed Monday the identify of the 67-year-old local man shot to death Friday in a Pinedale, Wyoming, alley. The man was shot from about 2-3 feet away, the Sublette County Coroner says.

Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2025

Stephen Craig Campbell was arrested in New Mexico on Feb. 19, 2025, after being on the lam since 1982, suspected in a Green River bombing.

Suspected Green River Bomber To Have His Sanity Checked

The man accused of injuring his ex-wife with a bomb in 1982, then running from the law for 43 years, will have his sanity checked. Stephen Campbell also is accused of stealing $140,000 in Social Security benefits using the name of a dead college classmate.

Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2025

One Dead In Pinedale Shooting, Possible Self-Defense Situation

One person is dead after a shooting Friday in Pinedale, the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office reports. Self-defense is being investigated as a possible factor, the sheriff told Cowboy State Daily.

Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025

Rock Springs Mother Accused Of Shooting Son In The Neck

A woman could face up to life in prison after Sweetwater County detectives say she shot her son in the neck last month. The mother was arrested Friday, and told authorities her son was going to hit her with a guitar, court documents say.

Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025

Green River Man Guilty Of Encouraging Child Into Sex Acts

A jury took about four hours Wednesday to convict a 50-year-old Green River man on multiple counts of child exploitation. William John Duncan was found guilty of encouraging a preteen child into sex acts.

Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025

Edmond Berseghian, above, and Zane Marcus Goodwin are two of six people accused of racing high-end luxury sports cars in Grand Teton National Park.

Supercar YouTuber Among 6 Accused Of Racing Luxury Cars In Grand Teton

A YouTuber who features high-priced supercars is one of six people accused of racing luxury cars in Grand Teton National Park last month. The drivers allegedly were racing up to speeds of 111 mph, a park official says.

Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025

A pair of state senators sparred at length Wednesday about whether an agency under the governor should audit the Legislative Services Office. Sen. Chris Rothfuss says it violates separation of powers protocols, while Sen. Darin Smith says it doesn't.

Legislators Spar Over Whether Governor’s Agency Should Audit Legislature

A pair of state senators sparred at length Wednesday about whether an agency under the governor should audit the Legislative Service Office. Sen. Chris Rothfuss says it violates separation of powers protocols, while Sen. Darin Smith says it doesn't.

Clair McFarlandJuly 11, 2025