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

Senate Will Consider Bill Banning Some Sex Offenders From Working Around Teens

Wyoming Senator Affie Ellis is sponsoring a bill that would ban some sex offenders from working or volunteering at teen hangouts, such as fast-food restaurants and arcades.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 19, 2024

Otis Edlund, top right, and Quintin Wyrick Amarillo, both 16 and from Lander, Wyoming, are suspected of stealing this 1969 Chevy Chevelle.

Runaway Wyoming Teens Found Safe In Northeastern Colorado

A pair of Lander, Wyoming, teens alleged to have fled the state with guns in a stolen 1969 Chevelle more than a week ago were found safe in Colorado on Friday.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 16, 2024

After a 32-hour standoff between law enforcement and a man suspected of killing a local police officer, the Sheridan home he barricaded himself in shows the extensive damage done to it during attempts to get to the suspect.

Who Will Pay For Damages To Sheridan House Destroyed By Police Standoff?

The Sheridan woman whose home was destroyed during a 32-hour standoff between police and a suspected cop killer may have few legal options to recover her losses. Wyoming attorneys say her best bet could be a state court.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 16, 2024

Scene of shooting in Cheyenne on Thursday, February 15, 2024

One Dead, Two Others Wounded In Cheyenne Shooting

A man was killed in a Thursday afternoon shooting in Cheyenne, while two other males “involved” in the shooting were wounded and taken to a hospital.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 16, 2024

Rock Springs Parents Don’t Want To Settle Over School Trans Policy

The chances of a Rock Springs couple settling their lawsuit against a local school district over allegedly helping gender transition their teen behind their backs are low, the couple’s attorney said.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 15, 2024

Sgt. Nevada Krinkee Remembered As Proud Family Man, Leader And Role Model

Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee was killed in the line of duty Tuesday, and is being remembered by his friends and neighbors as a proud family man, excellent leader and a role model.

Pat Maio, Clair McFarland & Andrew RossiFebruary 15, 2024

The house a man suspected of shooting and killing a Sheridan police officer Tuesday barricaded himself in for more than 30 hours was torn open in several places during the standoff as law enforcement tried to get him out.

'He Just Took Over The House': Sheridan Homeowner Didn’t Know Suspected Cop Killer

The Sheridan woman whose house became the scene of a 32-hour fatal standoff with a suspected cop killer did not know the man who "took over" her house, her daughter says.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 15, 2024

Willy was one of three pets that were in a house that was destroyed during a 30-hour standoff in Sheridan over the course of two days. Another dog also has been found, but a cat is still missing.

'A Small Whimper': Two Dogs Rescued From Sheridan Barricade House

Two pets were rescued from the remains of the house where an armed shooting suspect barricaded himself for 30-plus hours. A German Shepherd was found in the flooded basement where he took refuge on a pile of debris in 2-3 feet of icy water. A smaller dog was found later in the rubble.

Clair McFarland & Andrew RossiFebruary 15, 2024

An ambulance pulls up to the house where an armed suspect was barricaded for more than 30 hours after a Sheridan police officer was shot and killed Tuesday.

Suspected Sheridan Cop Killer Shot, Killed While Trying To Escape

The man suspected of killing a Sheridan Police sergeant Tuesday is dead after police shot him on Wednesday when he tried to flee the house in which he barricaded himself for more than 30 hours, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation reports.

Clair McFarland, Andrew Rossi & Pat MaioFebruary 15, 2024

Sheridan County Sheriff's Office Deputy Braydon Dempsey and his wife Addison Dempsey at a memorial for Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee, which has been growing throughout the day Wednesday.

30 Hours In, Still No Surrender In Sheridan Standoff With Suspected Cop Killer

UPDATE 4:30 p.m. Wednesday: More than 30 hours into a standoff, tactical response teams remain patient and willing to wait out a man suspected of killing a Sheridan police officer Tuesday morning.

Clair McFarland & Andrew RossiFebruary 14, 2024

The man suspected of shooting and killing a Sheridan police officer in front of this house was also renting it. He'd been squatting for several months and had been ordered to vacate.

Suspect In Sheridan Cop Killing Was Squatting In Rental House

The man suspected of shooting and killing Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee on Tuesday was squatting in a rental house he’d been ordered to vacate and hadn’t. He also has a lengthy Wyoming criminal history.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 14, 2024

A tactical robot is deployed toward a house where a man is in a standoff with Sheridan police

Standoff In Sheridan, Wyoming Continues: Suspected Killer Reportedly Shoots At Cops

12 Noon Update: A man suspected of killing a Sheridan Police Department sergeant Tuesday reportedly shot at police from the two-story house Wednesday in which he’s been barricaded for 24 hours as law enforcement and tactical units from all around Wyoming pressured him to come out.

Clair McFarland, Andrew Rossi & Pat MaioFebruary 14, 2024

Other Authors

Scenes Wednesday morning from a standoff in Sheridan between law enforcement and a man suspected of shooting and killing a police officer.

‘Come Out The Front Door!’ Standoff With Suspected Sheridan Cop Killer Hits 24-Hours

UPDATE: Wednesday, 10:20 a.m.: The man suspected of shooting and killing a Sheridan, Wyoming, police sergeant Tuesday remains barricaded in a house as police use water canon, armored vehicle and even an excavator to try and coax him out.

Clair McFarland, Andrew Rossi & Pat MaioFebruary 14, 2024

Law enforcement from Sheridan, Gillette and other Wyoming jurisdictions have the area around a Sheridan, Wyoming, home blocked off Tuesday evening during a standoff with a man suspected of killing a Sheridan police officer earlier in the day.

Sheridan Police Officer Killed In Line Of Duty, Suspect Barricades Himself

After Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee was shot and killed on a local street Tuesday morning, the suspect remained in an armed standoff more than 12 hours after barricading himself in a house near the shooting.

Clair McFarland & Andrew RossiFebruary 14, 2024

The 2024 Wyoming Senate meets on Feb. 13, 2024.

Wyoming Senate Will Hear Bill To Outlaw 'Sexual Contact' As Prostitution

Only the Wyoming Senate’s two Democrats voted against a bill that would add "sexual contact" to the definition of prostitution, with one saying laws to protect prostitutes from exploitation would be better.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2024

Sheridan Police Officer Shot And Killed, Suspect In Standoff With Law Enforcement

The Sheridan Police Department has announced that Sgt. Nevada Krinkee was shot and killed in the line of duty on Tuesday. The man suspected of shooting him is in an active standoff with police.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2024

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, voted against a controversial $95 billion foreign aid package because he said the U.S. needs to take care of securing its own borders before it gives billions to other countries to secure theirs.

Barrasso Votes Against $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package; It Passes Anyway

Sen. John Barrasso voted against a $95 billion foreign aid package early Tuesday morning, saying the U.S. needs to take care of the crisis at its southern border “before helping other nations secure theirs.” The bill passed 70-29.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2024

Bill Introduced To Discourage Child Custody For People Who Allow Gender-Change Treatments

Thirteen Wyoming legislators have signed-on to the "Best Interests Of A Child" bill that would sway child-custody battles in favor of parents and guardians who won't allow children to receive gender-change treatments.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2024

Texas Police Say Lander Runaways Not A Threat To Shoot Up A Preschool

The claim that two runaway Lander teens are out to shoot up a preschool in Texas is “a very intriguing story line” social media users have woven together without a credible source, a Texas police chief said Monday.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2024

'You Deserve This': Riverton Man Accused Of Strangling, Raping Woman For Hours

A Riverton man could face life in prison on claims he beat, strangled, confined and raped a woman for four to six hours on the Wind River Indian Reservation last month.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2024

The front steps and porch of this house were taken out by a car that led Laramie police on a chase exceeding 100 mph at one point.

Felony Charges Facing Utah Man After 100MPH Chase & Crash Into Laramie Home

A Utah man accused of crashing into a Laramie home and demolishing the front porch while fleeing law enforcement at more than 100mph with his child, marijuana and illegal mushrooms in his vehicle could face up to 28 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2024

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