Crime & Courts
News
Sister Refuses To Give Up Search 6 Years After Casper Man Vanished
Jose Mendoza disappeared on a trip home to Casper six years ago after visiting his mother in Utah. He also left behind mysterious clues that his sister believes point to someone harming him, and she refuses to give up the search for him.
Jen KocherNovember 22, 2025
Rural Wyoming EMTs Struggle To Keep Ambulances Rolling — Even When Wheels Fall Off
Wyoming’s rural EMS crews are struggling to keep their ambulances rolling amid staff shortages, aging equipment, and a $30 million annual funding gap. They even have to adapt when the wheels literally fall off during an emergency transport.
Scott SchwebkeNovember 22, 2025
Gillette Nurse Gets 1 Year In Jail For Freezing Death Of Dementia Patient
A Gillette CNA was sentenced Friday to a year in jail for negligent homicide in the death of an 88-year-old dementia patient who froze to death outside an assisted living center. Two jurors were removed during his trial for using racial slurs.
Jen KocherNovember 21, 2025
Casper Teen Gets 4-6 Years For Stabbing Girl With 2-Foot 'Tactical Machete’
An 18-year-old Casper woman got four to six years in prison Friday for stabbing another girl with what the prosecutor described as a 2-foot “tactical machete.” A dramatic video shown in court shows her sticking the machete into her victim, who survived.
Dale KillingbeckNovember 21, 2025
Big Piney Teen Agrees To Plead Guilty For Killing Man With Bow And Arrow
A Big Piney man agreed Thursday to plead guilty to second-degree murder and mutilation of a dead body for killing his friend February with a bow and arrow. Court documents say Rowan Littauer and Orion Schlesinger walked to the victim’s home and ambushed him.
Clair McFarlandNovember 21, 2025
81-Year-Old Rancher's Caterpillar Trackhoe Stolen In Bold Daytime Heist
An 81-year-old rancher’s $30,000 Caterpillar trackhoe was stolen in broad daylight near Big Piney, Wyoming. “Whoever did this had a pretty good plan and got home free,” the rancher told Cowboy State Daily
Scott SchwebkeNovember 20, 2025
Casper Woman Accused Of Tying Nursing Home Patient’s Head To Bed Pleads Not Guilty
A 50-year-old Casper woman could get 10 years in prison if she’s convicted of tying a patient’s head to a bed with a scarf while she worked at a nursing home. Julie Ann Cross pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Thursday.
Dale KillingbeckNovember 20, 2025
Casper Man Claims He’s ‘A Victim'; 1,083 Child Porn Photos Planted On His Phone
A 60-year-old Casper man told a judge Thursday that he’s “a victim” before he was sentenced to 12-15 years in prison for child pornography charges. He also claimed the 1,083 child porn photos found on his phone were planted there “while I was asleep."
Dale KillingbeckNovember 20, 2025
Wyoming Archaeologists Cheer Utah Woman’s Sentencing For Vandalizing Petroglyphs
A Utah woman’s Monday sentencing for carving several figures into a petroglyph wall is being cheered by archaeologists in Wyoming. That’s because vandalism is a growing problem at Wyoming’s 666 petroglyph sites, and around the West.
Andrew RossiNovember 18, 2025
Cheyenne Man Who Shot Teen In Head During Game Of ‘Quick Draw’ Pleads Guilty
A 21-year-old Cheyenne man pleaded guilty Tuesday to shooting a 16-year-old friend in the head while playing a game of “quick draw” on Mother’s Day. He also asked witnesses to lie to police about the shooting.
Dale KillingbeckNovember 18, 2025
Daughter Of Rock Springs Police Chief Accused Of Poisoning Roommate's Dog
Accused of poisoning her roommate’s dog so it had to be put down, the 19-year-old daughter of the Rock Springs police chief is charged with felony animal cruelty. The dog's owner doesn't agree with backlash against the chief, saying he's a "good person."
Clair McFarlandNovember 17, 2025
Months After Caught In Explosion, Jeffrey City Rancher Is Home, Glad To Be Alive
Rancher Travis Clyde, 47, was severely burned and injured in an explosion in July, suffering third- and fourth-degree burns. He is now back on his Jeffrey City ranch, thankful to be alive and glad for the outpouring of support his family has received.
Dale KillingbeckNovember 17, 2025
Wyoming Judge’s Secret Life Is Hand-Writing Top-Selling Legal Thrillers
Gillette Judge Paul Phillips — aka author James Chandler — has written 8 best-selling legal thrillers inspired by his life experiences. He just signed a deal with a major Hollywood producer with the goal of turning his book “Misjudged" into a 6 to 8-part docuseries.
Jen KocherNovember 15, 2025
Wyoming Sheriff To Criminals: Don’t Sell Drugs To Make Bond On Drug Charges
Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak on Friday offered some helpful advice for criminals — don’t talk on a jail telephone about selling stolen stuff and drugs to raise money to get out of jail on drug charges.
Greg JohnsonNovember 14, 2025
Weston County Clerk In Court, Pleads Not Guilty To Ignoring Legislative Subpoena
The Weston County Clerk on Friday pleaded not guilty in Casper Circuit Court to a misdemeanor charge for failing to appear after subpoenaed by a legislative subcommittee. The subcommittee was investigating her handling of the 2024 election results.
Dale KillingbeckNovember 14, 2025
Search Was On For Rock Springs Bar Worker Believed Missing — She Says She's Fine
Rock Springs police were asking for help locating a local bar worker Friday who vanished after work Tuesday. Kristen Marie Ann Taylor was believed missing, but says she's fine and wasn't actually missing. She was just on her days off and out of touch.
Jen KocherNovember 14, 2025
Former Worland Cop Guilty Of Molesting Children
After deliberating for about four hours Wednesday evening, a Washakie County jury convicted a former deputy who’d been serving as a police officer prior to his arrest last year on five counts of child sex abuse for molesting young girls.
Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2025
One Dead After Shooting At Gun Buy Gone Bad In Northwest Cheyenne
Detectives have interviewed multiple people in connection with a Wednesday night gun buy gone bad at a northwest Cheyenne home that left an 18-year-old man dead.
Scott SchwebkeNovember 13, 2025
LDS Church Sued Over Riverton Boy Losing Foot During Youth Boating Trip
The court-appointed conservator of a Riverton boy sued the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday over a youth group boat-tubing incident in which the boy lost his foot.
Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2025
Montana Ax Murderer And Self-Described White Supremacist Convicted Of Murder
A Montana jury found Daren Abbey guilty of murdering another man at a Gallatin Canyon campsite. Abbey, a self-described white supremacist, claimed self-defense but was convicted Monday and faces sentencing in December.
David MadisonNovember 13, 2025
Fremont County Prosecutor Shows Proof Of 'Premeditation' In 2023 Throat Slitting
The Riverton man accused of binding a man hand and foot, then fatally slitting his throat two years ago is finally headed to a felony-level trial court. Fremont County’s top prosecutor showed proof Wednesday that he acted with “premeditation."
Clair McFarlandNovember 12, 2025
Appeals Court Sides With Kanye West In Wyoming Campaign Case
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that a marketing company suing Kanye West’s 2020 presidential campaign failed to show it was cheated out of payment.
Clair McFarlandNovember 12, 2025
Grass Fire West Of Laramie Threatens Multiple Gas Stations Near I-80
A 56-acre grass fire that ignited near multiple Laramie gas stations Monday is believed to have originated from I-80, officials believe. Fire crews are now watching the area to ensure the blaze does not rekindle.
Jackson WalkerNovember 12, 2025
Court Fight Heats Up Over Judge's Order To Spend More On Schools In Wyoming
Wyoming’s largest teacher's advocacy group and eight school districts are urging the state Supreme Court not to pause a judge’s order requiring more money for school staff, lunches, and technology while the state appeals the ruling.
Clair McFarlandNovember 11, 2025