Crime & Courts
News
Trucking Community Devastated By Fatal I-80 Hit-And-Run Near Rock Springs
Four days after a semitruck driver was killed while stopped on the shoulder of I-80 near Rock Springs, the Wyoming Highway Patrol is escalating its search for the hit-and-run driver. Industry insiders say they’re devastated by the “freak” incident.
Zakary SonntagApril 29, 2025
Transient Who Broke Laramie Woman’s Face Gets Strict Probation
A transient man who broke the face of a Laramie woman he dated two years ago was sentenced Tuesday to a two-month jail stint, followed by probation and treatment. The judge warned that if the man fails probation, he’ll go to prison for 6-8 years.
Clair McFarlandApril 29, 2025
Body Found On White Mountain Likely Missing Green River Woman
A woman’s body was found near a wrecked car on White Mountain outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming, on Sunday. Authorities believe the victim is missing 41-year-old Melissa Ann Amadio of Green River.
Jen KocherApril 29, 2025
Wheatland Man Gets Probation For Molesting 8-Year-Old Boy 40 Years Ago
The now-adult victim of a Wheatland man who molested him 40 years ago says he still lives with the consequences of being “raped 15-plus times.” Tyler Boyd, who was 14 when he abused the younger boy four decades ago, was sentenced Monday to probation.
Clair McFarlandApril 29, 2025
Rock Springs Man Who Stabbed Friend At Least 26 Times Gets 55 Years To Life
William Brewer, 34, was sentenced Monday in a Green River courtroom to between 55 years and life in prison for killing his friend in 2023. He stabbed his victim at least 26 times in what a prosecutor compared to a grizzly bear attack.
Clair McFarlandApril 29, 2025
Homeless Montana Man Awarded $27.75 Million For Vicious Prison Beating
A homeless Montana man whose conviction for sex assault was overturned won a $27.75 million judgment for a vicious beating he took in prison. A private prison company, which also does business with Wyoming, didn’t do enough to protect him, a jury found.
David MadisonApril 28, 2025
Man Says Casper Cops Shot, Killed Wife In Response To Reported Burglary
A 37-year-old woman was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting at a Casper home early Monday. The woman's estranged husband told Cowboy State Daily that "there was not a burglar" and that "the cops shot her."
Dale KillingbeckApril 28, 2025
One Dead In Officer-Involved Shooting During Casper Burglary Response
UPDATE: One person is dead after Casper Police Department officers responded early Monday to a scene with an armed burglar, the department says. "Shots were fired," and the person was taken to a hospital, and later died.
Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2025
'Urgent' Notice Issued For Air Force Member Wanted On Child Porn Allegations
The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations on Saturday issued an "urgent" notice about 27-year-old Airman First Class Branden Cecil Standifer. He's wanted on child porn allegations and was last seen at the Bozeman airport.
Clair McFarlandApril 26, 2025
Still No Trace Of Popular UW Professor Missing For Nine Months
Despite extensive searches of areas University of Wyoming Professor Nash Quinn of Laramie was known to bike, searchers have found no trace of him since he disappeared last July.
Jen KocherApril 26, 2025
ICE Wants Four Held On Drug Charges In Sheridan
Four men accused of smoking marijuana in a vehicle that also contained meth while swerving across a Sheridan road this week are now in jail — and on the radar of federal immigration officials. ICE wants local authorities to hold the men for the agency.
Clair McFarlandApril 25, 2025
Oregon Cop Spent The Night Talking Riverton Barricade Suspect Off The Ledge
When a Newberg, Oregon, police officer started his night shift Wednesday last week, he had no idea he’d spend five hours on the phone with a barricaded man 1,000 miles away in Riverton, Wyoming.
Clair McFarlandApril 25, 2025
Twice-Deported Man Accused Of Smuggling 18,000 Rounds Of Ammo Skips Court
A twice-deported Mexican immigrant with suspected cartel-ties accused of smuggling 18,000 rounds of ammunition through Wyoming skipped federal court Friday. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
Leo WolfsonApril 25, 2025
Former Rock Springs Teacher Emailed Student About Gender Transition
In an ongoing lawsuit about whether a Rock Springs school district helped to gender-transition a girl behind her parents' backs, the district is asking the judge not to let a former teacher's emails - which have surfaced in the case file - go to trial.
Clair McFarlandApril 24, 2025
Hotel Housekeeper Accused Of Stealing Elderly Couple's Coins Makes Plea Deal For Probation
The former head housekeeper of the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne agreed to a plea deal for probation in a stolen coin case. Rene Maria Manzanares is accused of stealing nearly $26,000 in coins from an elderly couple who lost their home in a mudslide.
Clair McFarlandApril 24, 2025
Cheyenne Voodoo Man Charged With Tearing Up Election Center Says He Was Set Up
Nicknamed "Wisdom," Joshua Hayden-Ali, is choosing to have a bench trial in which a judge, not a jury, will decide if he's guilty of tearing up an election center. He told Cowboy State Daily he's been set up by a secret organization.
Clair McFarlandApril 23, 2025
Body Cam Video Shows Shooting Death Of Autistic Idaho Teen By Police
Body camera video has been released showing the shooting death by Pocatello, Idaho, police of a non-verbal autistic teen brandishing a large knife. The incident has sparked protests of the local police.
David MadisonApril 23, 2025
Uzbekistani Trucker Accused Of Chasing Another Trucker With Knife
An Uzbekistani truck driver was arrested after a road rage incident along Interstate 80 in southwest Wyoming, which escalated into him chasing another trucker with a knife, court documents say. He's scheduled for a Friday court hearing.
Clair McFarlandApril 23, 2025
Casper Foster Dad Found Guilty Of Sexually Abusing Adopted Girls
It took a Casper jury more than six hours Tuesday afternoon and evening to convict Steven Marler on eight of 11 charges of sexually abusing two adopted daughters, including one of rape.
Dale KillingbeckApril 23, 2025
Body Found On Wind River Reservation May Be Missing Father, Daughter Says
Authorities declined Tuesday to confirm to Cowboy State Daily whose body they found on the Wind River Reservation, but the daughter of a man missing since December said it may be her father.
Clair McFarlandApril 23, 2025
Wyoming Man Accused Of Having Deceased Child Porn Gets 22-27 Years In Prison
A Wyoming man originally accused of having pornographic images of babies, toddlers and dead children has been sentenced to 22-27 years in prison. He pleaded “no contest” to 23 of the 54 child porn charges against him, says a Tuesday court order.
Clair McFarlandApril 22, 2025
Jury Has Case Of Casper Man Who Told Girl ‘I know I Shouldn’t Love You Like This’
A Natrona County District Court jury started deliberating Tuesday the fate of a Casper foster father accused of sexually abusing multiple young girls. One alleged victim told the jury he said to her, “I know I shouldn’t love like this, but I do.”
Dale KillingbeckApril 22, 2025
Newcastle Police Find Unexploded Bottle Bombs, Shoot Them To Neutralize
Newcastle police are investigating the discovery of three 2-liter bottle bombs on a sidewalk in town. Filled with drain or toilet-bowl cleaner and aluminum foil, the bombs were safely exploded from a distance by shooting them.
Clair McFarlandApril 22, 2025
Police Say Gillette Dementia Patient Froze After Nursing Assistant Ignored Alarm
A nursing assistant at a Gillette senior living center was formally charged Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter for the freezing death of an 88-year-old dementia patient. Police say he ignored an alarm she triggered when she went outside in January.
Jen KocherApril 22, 2025