Features, Investigative Reporter

Jen Kocher

Find Jen Kocher

Envelope

Latest from Jen Kocher

Nearly 30 years after the naked body 18-year-old Tonya Teske of Shoshoni was found decomposing along an Idaho highway, investigators are still pushing to solve the cold case. It doesn’t help that some of the evidence was destroyed in 2008.

After 30 Years, Murder Of Shoshoni Woman Left Naked Along Highway Still Unsolved

Nearly 30 years after the naked body of an 18-year-old Shoshoni woman was found decomposing along an Idaho highway, investigators are still pushing to solve the cold case. It doesn’t help that some of the evidence was destroyed in 2008.

Jen KocherOctober 25, 2026

Dan Knievel and Nick Boltin returned to Gillette after successful careers to launch their cybersecurity startup, White Hat Rescue. Here, Nick sets up a secure server for a client.

Gillette Cybersecurity Duo On Mission To Stop Cyber-Hackers From Destroying Lives

Last week, a Gillette woman inadvertently handed over control of everything — bank accounts, credit cards, etc. to an online scammer. The police couldn't help but a local cybersecurity duo stopped the criminal just in time. He was trying to access her house deed.

Jen KocherOctober 18, 2026

Janelle Johnson, 23, was hitchhiking home from Denver after attending an appointment at a modeling agency in February 1983 when she was murdered, and her nude body was found nearly a week later off a rural road in Fremont County. To date, her murder remains unsolved.

New DNA Technology Could Crack 1983 Murder Of Aspiring Model In Fremont County

Investigators hope new forensic DNA technology can help them solve the 1983 Fremont County, Wyoming, murder of Jannele Johnson, a 23-year-old aspiring model who was hitchhiking from Riverton to Denver. "It would mean everything," her younger sister says.

Jen KocherOctober 10, 2026

Federal and state law enforcement says Wyoming teens are being targeted by a disturbing and violent online extremist group called “764.” Kids across the nation are coerced into sex acts, satanic rituals and hurting pets and other people, they say.

Officials Say Wyoming Teens Targeted By Violent Online Extremist Group ‘764’

Federal and state law enforcement officials say Wyoming teens are being targeted by a violent online extremist group called “764.” Kids across the nation are coerced into sex acts, satanic rituals, and hurting pets and other people, they say.

Jen KocherOctober 04, 2026

Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O'Donnell talks about how DNA extracted from decades-old fingerprint cards solved the 48-year-old murder of a 16-year-old Billings, Montana, girl.

Case Closed: DNA From Fingerprint Cards Solves 48-Year-Old Murder Of Billings Girl

DNA taken from five fingerprint cards nearly a half-century old finally solved the murder of 16-year-old Corina Contreraz, who was killed in Billings, Montana, in 1978. "Her spirit is finally free, and we can breathe again," said the girl's cousin.

Jen KocherOctober 04, 2026

David Crouch, 27, went missing while camping in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in August 1997. His disappearance has haunted retired Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland for nearly three decades.

Now Retired, Wyoming Sheriff Still Haunted 29 Years After Camper Went Missing

David Crouch, 27, went missing while camping in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in August 1997. He was last seen on the banks of Island Lake with a fishing rod in hand. His disappearance has haunted retired Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland for nearly three decades.

Jen KocherOctober 02, 2026

Rising from obliterated remnants scattered along a Wyoming highway after the delivery truck was blown over in a windstorm, the revived herd painted by Wyoming artists raised $100,000 in a fundraiser for the Rockpile Museum.

Auction Raises $100K After Artists Recreate Pronghorn Sculptures Smashed By Wind

After a truck full of painted pronghorn sculptures was demolished on a windy Wyoming highway last year, artists regrouped and recreated 10 more sculptures for a Gillette Rockpile Museum Association fundraiser. The auction earlier this month raised more than $100,000.

Jen KocherSeptember 27, 2026

The remains of 43-year-old Gillette man Derek Schaff, missing more than three months, were found Saturday by a K-9 named Taz during an extensive search of the Weston Hills Recreation Area. John LaBrec and his K-9 Taz came from Jackson Hole to help search.

Remains Of Gillette Man Missing More Than Three Months Found In Rugged Terrain

The remains of a 43-year-old Gillette man missing more than three months were found Saturday by a K-9 named Taz during an extensive search of the Weston Hills Recreation Area. “I wouldn’t have seen the guy without (Taz),” said the K-9's handler.

Jen KocherSeptember 22, 2026

Karly and Kaylee Brennan join the search for missing Gillette man, Derek Schaff, at the Weston Hills recreational area. Schaff has been missing for three months.

Why North Dakota Pair Are Taking Search For Missing Gillette Man So Personal

A mother-daughter team from North Dakota has made numerous trips to Wyoming to search for a Gillette man they don’t know who's been missing for months. Their own tragedy makes the search personal. "Everyone needs to be brought home," they say.

Jen KocherSeptember 19, 2026

Jonathan Bailey is greeted with a hug at airport in Pinedale on Friday after being rescued after wandering for a week in the Wind River Range.

Rescued! Hiker And Dog Missing For Week In Wind River Range Reunited With Family

An Idaho hiker and his dog were reunited with family Friday afternoon after being missing in the Wind River Range for a week. Jonathan Bailey and his yellow Labrador retriever Wrigley had been separated from their group in the Bridger Wilderness.

Jen KocherSeptember 11, 2026

Search On For Missing Hiker And Dog In Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains

Searchers continue to scour Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains for Jonathan Bailey and his yellow Lab Wrigley, missing since Saturday when they didn’t come back from a hike. “Anyone can get turned around out there,” said a former Sublette County sheriff.

Jen KocherSeptember 08, 2026

Two Crook County Girls Targeted By Alleged Sex Predators In One Month

Two teen girls from rural Crook County in a month have been targets of alleged sex predators. Authorities say it’s troubling how girls from small Wyoming towns are meeting older men online — and terrifying that the men turn up in person to meet them.

Jen KocherSeptember 07, 2026

Other Authors

Search teams battled harsh conditions Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, and used specialized equipment to raise a 55-gallon barrel off the bottom of Fremont Lake.

No Body! Barrel Retrieved From Fremont Lake Doesn't Contain Human Remains

The barrel pulled from Fremont Lake on Saturday didn't contain what searchers had hoped: the body of Virginia Uden. However, searchers say there’s still a trash can to be brought up that may contain the bodies of the two Uden boys killed with Virginia.

Jen KocherAugust 31, 2026

Search teams battled harsh conditions Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, and used a specially designed "claw" like device designed and fabricated by Bill Dohse and Dave Sparks to raise a 55-gallon barrel off the bottom of Fremont Lake.

Barrel Up! After 46 Years, Victim Of Triple Murder May Be Out Of Fremont Lake

A barrel lifted from Wyoming’s deepest lake Saturday night may finally solve at least part of a 46-year-old triple murder. Authorities believe It may contain the body of Virginia Uden who, along with her two boys, was killed by her ex-husband in 1980.

Jen Kocher & Zakary SonntagAugust 30, 2026

An intense search in rugged territory in northern Campbell County has found more evidence of 43-year-old Derek Schaff of Gillette, who has been missing for months. It brings officials closer to “the answers our family so desperately needs,” said his sister-in-law. Even so, the search continues.

More Evidence Found During Intense Search For Gillette Man Missing Since June

An intense search in rugged territory in northern Campbell County this past week has found more evidence of 43-year-old Derek Schaff of Gillette, who has been missing more than two months. It brings officials closer to “the answers our family so desperately needs,” said his sister-in-law.

Jen KocherAugust 23, 2026

Gillette Incumbent Angelos Wins GOP Nod For Senate District 33

Wyoming State Rep. Abby Angelos won the Republican nomination for Senate District 33 in Cambell County, beating challenger Dwayne Dillinger by nearly 400 votes.

Jen KocherAugust 19, 2026

Freedom Caucus Champion John Bear Upended By Political Newcomer In Campbell County

Wyoming Freedom Caucus champion and incumbent state Rep. John Bear was upended by political newcomer Doug Moore in his reelection bid in Tuesday’s Campbell County Republican primary.

Jen KocherAugust 19, 2026

Clifford "Russ" Haux, then 42, disappeared in the Red Desert in November 2003 where he'd been working on an oil rig. He and a co-worker had gone out to retrieve a stuck work vehicle and became separated, and Haux was never seen again.

Daughters Haunted By Dad’s Disappearance In Red Desert Near Wamsutter 23 Years Ago

Nearly 23 years after Clifford “Russ” Haux vanished in the Red Desert near Wamsutter, his daughters are still haunted. The 42-year-old husband and father of three had gone out with a co-worker to free a stuck vehicle and never returned.

Jen KocherAugust 15, 2026

'It's A Terrible Way To Live,’ Says Former Addict About Wyoming’s Fentanyl Crisis

Waking up in a hospital with a naloxone drip in her arm after an overdose finally scared Lisa sober, and she's now warning people about the growing access to fentanyl in Wyoming. "It's a terrible way to live, worse than anything else," she says.

Jen Kocher & Kolby FedoreAugust 09, 2026

Searchers using a drone in Wyoming's deepest lake found two barrels they hope contain the bodies of a missing mother and two young sons Gerald Uden has admitted he murdered 45 years ago. The next step is to recover the barrels from Fremont Lake.

Searchers Optimistic They'll Find Uden Bodies In Barrels At Bottom Of Fremont Lake

Searchers are optimistic that the barrel and a trash can they found two weeks ago at the bottom of Fremont Lake contain the bodies of a young mother and her two sons murdered by notorious killer Gerald Uden. Their next step is to recover the barrels.

Jen KocherAugust 02, 2026

A video screen shows a live feed of an old oil barrel found on the bottom of Fremont Lake. Searchers are hoping to find the bodies of Gerald Uden's ex-wife Virginia and two step-sons — Reagan, 10, above, and Richard, 11 — whom he murdered in 1980.

Barrel Found! Killer Had Told Cops Victims' Bodies In Barrels On Lake Bottom

Triple-murderer Gerald Uden says he put the bodies of his 1980 murder victims in barrels and sunk them in Fremont Lake, Wyoming's deepest. Officials were skeptical — until they found a barrel 388-feet deep last week. “You're shi**ing me!” a searcher said.

Zakary Sonntag & Jen KocherJuly 19, 2026