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Jen Kocher

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If a judge accepts his Alford plea, Anthony Michael Fuentes would become the first person in Wyoming to be convicted of manslaughter for selling someone fentanyl-laced drugs that led to death.

Greybull Man To Be Wyoming’s First Manslaughter Conviction For Fentanyl-Laced Drugs

If a judge accepts his guilty plea, a Greybull man will be the first person in Wyoming convicted of selling drugs that led to the death of another person.

Jen KocherJune 07, 2024

Cassandra Burson says she's not sure what justice for her murdered father looks like, but that a court conviction likely will fall far short.

Daughter Of Wyoming Tribal Murder Victim Says Justice Goes Beyond A Conviction

The daughter of a Wind River Reservation man murdered in Lander, Wyoming, in April questions what it means to get justice for her father and others. One thing she does know: It’s goes far beyond a court conviction.

Jen KocherJune 02, 2024

Jose Alfredo Mendoza has been missing for five years. The Casper Police Department is making a new push to find him.

Five Years After Wyoming Man Disappeared, New Push On To Find Him

It’s been five years since Casper resident Jose Alfredo Mendoza disappeared and although the trail is cold, local investigators are making a new push to find him.

Jen KocherMay 31, 2024

Gillette teens Jackson Harris and Kegan Bare, right, rescued this nest full of baby birds at the Fishing Lake last weekend.

Acts Of Kindness: Gillette Teens Rescue Baby Birds, Wildlife Rehabber Does The Rest

The easy part for two Gillette teens was rescuing the baby birds who were motherless and appeared doomed. But then what? Thankfully, one of two certified mammal wildlife rehabbers in Wyoming lived in Gillette and she took care of the rest.

Jen KocherMay 27, 2024

Shanna Brubaker, 38, of Cheyenne has been missing since April 29, 2024.

Family Desperate To Find Missing Cheyenne Woman Who May Have Had Mental Emergency

The family of 38-year-old Shanna Brubaker, who’s been missing from her Cheyenne home since April 29 and may be experiencing a mental health emergency, is desperate to find her. The family is asking for the public's help.

Jen KocherMay 26, 2024

During his visit, Uno and Kindness Ranch Executive John Ramer visit Florida Republican Congressman Brian Mast, who has been an outspoken advocate against animal testing.

Wyoming Rescue Dog From The Kindness Ranch Unites Politicians On Capitol Hill

Uno, one of 4,000 beagles rescued from an animal research facility, united Capitol Hill with his message of treating animals humanely. Uno lives at Wyoming's Kindness Ranch, the only facility in the nation to take in only former research animals.

Jen KocherMay 18, 2024

Johnson County sheep rancher Mike Miller trails about 150 eyes and lambs down Echeta Road into Gillette on Saturday.

Gillette Sheep Drive Stops Traffic, Revives Ranching Tradition

Mike Miller drove about 150 ewes and lambs through Gillette on Saturday, marking the first time in decades the area’s ranching tradition was revived with a sheep trail, stopping traffic and delighting locals.

Jen KocherMay 12, 2024

Kathleen Pehringer was 42 when she disappeared from her home in Riverton, Wyoming, 35 years ago.

Police, Daughter Want Answers in 35-Year-Old Cold Case of Missing Wyoming Mother

Kathleen Pehringer disappeared from her Riverton home 35 years ago, and while investigators say they have a person of interest, a daughter left behind is desperate for answers to one of Wyoming’s decades-old cold cases.

Jen KocherApril 20, 2024

AI A New Cyber Threat To Wyomingites, Who Were Scammed Out Of $14 Million

Last year, Wyoming residents were bilked out of nearly $14 million in internet scams with people over 60 taking the hardest hit. Extortion accounted for the greatest number of crimes, followed by tech support scams and non-delivery of paid goods and services.

Jen KocherApril 14, 2024

Lugging 35-pound backpacks over the course of a full marathon, UW ROTC cadets Justin Stiles, from left, Louis Torres, Ryan Engle and Jack Harrington finished in 16th place at the Bataan Memorial Death March competition.

Wyoming Cadets Among Nation’s Elite At Grueling Death March Race

ROTC cadets from the University of Wyoming finished at or near the top of more than 5,000 competitors in the grueling annual Bataan Memorial Death March competition in New Mexico.

Jen KocherApril 07, 2024

Nate Mejia of Cheyenne was last seen March 23, 2024.

Family, Friends of Missing 27-Year-Old Cheyenne Man Desperate for Answers

Nearly two weeks after a 27-year-old Cheyenne man disappeared, his family and friends are desperate for answers about what happened to him. They fear his troubles with addiction may have put him at odds with the wrong people.

Jen KocherApril 05, 2024

The boyfriend of Irene Gakwa, a Gillette nursing student missing for three years, could be released from prison this month. Nathan Hightman drained her accounts after she disappeared and remains a “person of interest” in the case.

Boyfriend Of Missing Wyoming Woman Subject Of New Investigation

The boyfriend of a Wyoming woman missing for more than two years remains a “person of interest” in her disappearance. Meanwhile, Nathan Hightman is in prison for unrelated crimes and is the subject of a new investigation.

Jen KocherApril 03, 2024

Other Authors

Nearly 2 Years After Laramie Man’s Body Found, Death Still A Mystery

A coroner’s report released last week shows that almost two years after a 39-year-old Laramie man went missing and months after his remains were found, how he died remains a mystery.

Jen KocherApril 02, 2024

Wyoming Families Desperate For Answers Put Hope In New Cold-Case Laws

A pair of new laws is giving Wyoming families of cold-case victims desperate for answers guarded hope that more money, public scrutiny can break cases.

Jen KocherApril 02, 2024

The roughly 12-mile Barlow Canyon Road is one of several Crook County roads on which some residents would like to see the state-mandated 55 mph speed limit lowered.

Crook County Residents Say Speed Racers On Rural Roads Will Kill People

Crook County residents say some drivers treat unpaved, winding county roads like the autobahn and will result in children getting killed. County commissioners say the Legislature has taken away their authority to set their own speed limits.

Jen KocherMarch 31, 2024

Internet crimes against children in Wyoming were up 40% in 2023, and are already up 60% over that for the first three months of this year.

Internet Crimes Against Wyoming Children Surge, Up 60% So Far This Year

Internet crimes against children in Wyoming continues to grow at a brisk pace, up 40% in 2023 and already surging with 60% more reports in the first three months of 2024.

Jen KocherMarch 31, 2024

Volunteers from animal rescues all over the country worked with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (SPCA) International to find homes for the 70 rescued dogs.

Wyoming’s Kindness Ranch Rescues 10 West Bank War Refugee Dogs

A few days ago, these 10 dogs were refugees in war-torn West Bank, shellshocked and some missing limbs. They were rescued last week by the Wyoming-based Kindness Ranch, a 1,000-acre animal sanctuary near Hartville.

Jen KocherMarch 24, 2024

Bilko, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois was a rock star K-9 officer for the Gillette Police Department before his recent retirement.

Gillette Police Retire Biko, The ‘Michael Jordan’ Of Wyoming K-9 Officers

It's never easy for a K-9 police dog to retire. Biko, who Gillette police call the 'Michael Jordan' of crime dogs, is adjusting to being a family dog but his handler says Biko's whining tugs on his heartstrings as he heads out the door to work.

Jen KocherMarch 16, 2024

Serial killer Ted Bundy after he was arrested for the murder of two Florida State University co-eds.

Summer Of Bundy: Investigator On Quest To Find Bodies Of Ted Bundy's Utah Victims

Private investigator Jason Jensen is planning a “Summer of Bundy,” in conjunction with the Cold Case Coalition, to look for the gravesites of four Utah women who serial killer Ted Bundy admitted to killing and burying there and in Colorado.

Jen KocherMarch 10, 2024

Wyoming Searchers Help Find Shoes That Lead To Body Of Missing Man

A search team from Gillette helped uncover a pair of hiking boots last weekend that led law enforcement to the discovery of a dead body that is likely that of a missing Colorado man, Nick Salvagni. His father says he is certain that it's his son.

Jen KocherMarch 09, 2024

Dominick Argue, far right, is escorted from the Indian Hill Townhouse community in Gillette on Feb. 23 after taking a handgun into Campbell County High School and fleeing from police. This image is taken from video surveillance at the complex.

Gillette Teen Charged As Adult For Allegedly Bringing Gun To School

A Gillette 16-year-old who had been expelled from Campbell County High School, then allegedly snuck back in and flashed a handgun, has been charged as an adult and could face more than six years in prison.

Jen KocherMarch 08, 2024

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