Crime & Courts | Cowboy State Daily

Sweetwater County Fire District No. 1 and Rock Springs firefighters responded to a Rock Springs-area home Tuesday that was filled with smoke and flames fueled by winds. The home was a total loss.

Merry Christmas: Family Of 8 Loses Everything, Including Pets, In Wind-Whipped Fire

A Rock Springs family of eight lost their rural rental home, four pets and all their possessions in a fast-moving fire driven by high wind Tuesday. They’re now split up among relatives while the community rallies to help them find new housing.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 11, 2025

Man Dead, 8-Year-Old Girl Shot At Rural Lincoln County Home

A domestic violence incident at a home in rural western Wyoming on Tuesday left a man dead and an 8-year-old child with a gunshot wound, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday.

Greg JohnsonDecember 11, 2025

Uinta County Commission Chairman Arrested, Charges Under Review

The Uinta County Commission chairman was arrested last week on suspicion of domestic battery, the Evanston police chief confirmed Thursday to Cowboy State Daily. Possible charges against Mark Anderson are under review by an out-of-county prosecutor.

Clair McFarlandDecember 11, 2025

Road-Raging Cheyenne DoorDasher Accused Of Pointing Loaded Gun, Fighting With Teen

A 24-year-old DoorDasher is accused of going on an anger-fueled rampage around Cheyenne on Monday. He faces multiple charges on suspicion of threatening people with a loaded 9 mm handgun and physically fighting a 17-year-old.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 11, 2025

Wyoming Sportsman Group Demands Justice After Trio Accused Of Torturing Moose

Wyoming Sportsmanship, a group formed after the torture of a wolf in Daniel, Wyoming, is calling for justice for a cow moose allegedly roped, dragged and abused by three men in Uinta County. “This is egregious, pathetic, and disgusting," spokesman Paul Ulrich said.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 11, 2025

Fatal Shooting Of Friend In Sublette County Ruled Self Defense

A special prosecutor ruled Tuesday that a Sublette County man who fatally shot his friend last July used reasonable defensive force as the other man swung an animal trap at him.

Clair McFarlandDecember 11, 2025

The Wyoming Highway Patrol had confirmed at least 21 blowovers on Wyoming's highways during Tuesday's winter windstorm.

At Least 21 Blowovers Reported in Wyoming During Tuesday's Hurricane-Force Winds

The Wyoming Highway Patrol has confirmed at least 21 blowovers on Wyoming's highways during Tuesday's winter windstorm. Wind speeds as high as 105 mph were recorded.

Andrew RossiDecember 10, 2025

Ex-Bar Nunn Fire Chief Gets Suspended Sentence For Stealing From Charity Boot Drive

The former Bar Nunn fire chief on Wednesday received a suspended three-to-five years in prison and three years of supervised probation for stealing from the 2024 MDA Fill the Boot fund drive last year. “What I did was wrong,” he told the judge. “I apologize.”

Dale KillingbeckDecember 10, 2025

The possibility of the death penalty is off the table for both Big Piney teens accused of ambushing and murdering their friend with a bow and arrow. Rowan Littauer, pictured, pleaded not guilty Monday, as did his alleged accomplice Orion Schlesinger on March 20.

Second Man Pleads Guilty In Big Piney Bow And Arrow Murder

A Big Piney man pleaded guilty Wednesday, to killing another man with a bow and arrow in February, then riddling his scalp with BBs. Rowan Littauer could face between 75 years and life in prison if District Court Judge Kate McKay accepts his plea agreement.

Clair McFarlandDecember 10, 2025

Oops! Overloaded Semi Driven By Alleged Undocumented Nicaraguan Rolls Into Patrol Car

An overloaded semi-truck with 23 violations backed into a Laramie County Sheriff’s Office patrol car Monday during a traffic stop. Sheriff Brian Kozak said the truck had faulty brakes and was driven by an undocumented Nicaraguan man, who was arrested.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 09, 2025

Toadstool Hoodoos in Kanab, Utah, along with file photo of human skull

Archaeologists Seek Thief Who Stole Human Skull From Utah Burial Site

Archaeologists are searching for a person who stole a human skull from an 1,700-year-old burial site near Kanab, Utah. Officials call the act "disgusting." "The fact that grave robbing is still happening is shocking to me," said the lead archaeologist.

Andrew RossiDecember 09, 2025

Cowboys Charged In Felony Animal Abuse Case For Roping, Riding, Dragging Moose

Roping and riding a terrorized cow moose and then roping and dragging it gave cowboys on a Uinta County ranch enough of a thrill to capture the event on video. Now those videos are being used to charge the trio with felony violations for cruelty to animals.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 09, 2025

Duo Charged With Kidnapping Teenage Girl Wanted By ICE

The two men the Wyoming Highway Patrol arrested last week for kidnapping a teenage girl are wanted by ICE. The men, 33-year-old Pedro Giron Perez and 22-year-old Alexcer Solis Gomez, remained Monday in the Carbon County Detention Center.

Clair McFarlandDecember 09, 2025

Stephanie Linke, 36, and Michael Gruchacz, 35, are accused of torturing a 14-year-old boy. Prosecutors say the teen was forced to drink gallons of water and live in a basement. Doctors say he nearly died and showed clear signs of abuse and malnutrition.

Cheyenne Pair Await Arraignment For Allegedly Forcing Gallons Of Water Down Teen

A Cheyenne pair await arraignment in Laramie County District Court on charges of aggravated child abuse. They allegedly forced a 14-year-old to drink gallons of water a day, prompting him to have seizures and nearly die.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 08, 2025

Chris McGuire retired in October after 35 years as a Wyoming Highway Patrol dispatcher, where she handled everything from blizzards to domestic disputes. It's a job for an adrenaline junkie with an eye for detail and bedside manner of a doctor.

Last Call For Wyoming Highway Patrol Dispatcher After 35 Years Of Chaos And Crisis

After 35 years as a dispatcher with the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Chris McGuire has retired. Handling everything from domestic disputes to blizzards, long hours were a constant, she said. During one snowstorm, she worked 37 hours straight.

Jen KocherDecember 06, 2025

Her name was Florence, but everyone called her Flo, which had double meaning for a woman who lived life in constant motion. That’s how hundreds of people in Jackson remembered Florence McCall-Phillips on Saturday, June 28, 2025, a week after her sudden death.

Jackson Man Agrees To 10-12 Years In Prison For DUI Crash That Killed Photographer

A Jackson man agreed to plead guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and DUI for a June 21 crash that killed a photographer riding her bicycle near South Park Loop. Jody Utter faces 10-12 years in prison if the judge accepts the plea deal.

Clair McFarlandDecember 06, 2025

Daughter Of Rock Springs Police Chief Gets 42 Days For Poisoning Roommate's Dog

The daughter of the Rock Springs, Wyoming, police chief was sentenced to 42 days in jail and $2,224 restitution Wednesday for poisoning her roommate’s dog, leading to its having to be put down.

Clair McFarlandDecember 05, 2025

Former Laramie Mayor, Lobbyist Accused Of Stealing From Mental Health Group

Former Laramie mayor and lobbyist Andi Summerville is accused of stealing over $31,000 from a Wyoming mental health nonprofit she led, facing eight felony charges after investigators found unauthorized purchases and self-written checks.

Clair McFarlandDecember 04, 2025

The Florida trucker — identified as Rabindran Bunsee — arrested by a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper near Rawlins could face life in prison on an attempted murder charge during a road rage incident. He’s accused of shooting at a pickup with a toddler in it.

'Road Rage' Trucker Says Pickup Driver Actually Shot At Him

A trucker accused of shooting at a pickup with a child inside claims the pickup driver actually fired first in a road rage incident. A judge found probable cause Wednesday to send the case to district court on multiple felony charges.

Clair McFarlandDecember 04, 2025

A Worland man who riddled his own dog with bullets was was sentenced Wednesday to three years' supervised probation and fined $1,000. Donald “Dudley” Wright, 60, says he’s had death threats over the incident and that that the punishment seems harsh for such a “miniscule” crime.

Worland Man Who Riddled His Own Dog With Bullets Gets Probation, Fines

A Worland man who riddled his own dog with bullets was sentenced Wednesday to three years' supervised probation and fined $1,000. He says he’s had death threats over the incident and that that the punishment seems harsh for such a “miniscule” crime.

Clair McFarlandDecember 03, 2025

10-month-old Basil Daly was last seen in Washakie County on Nov. 16. He’s thought to be with his noncustodial mother Madeline Daly, who has absconded with him against court orders. Desperate to find the child, his father is asking for the public's help.

Felony Warrant Issued For Wyoming Mom Who Took Off With 10-Month-Old Baby

More than two weeks after a 10-month-old boy was reported missing, authorities have issued a felony arrest warrant for his mother, who’s accused of taking the baby. “I feel like I'm getting robbed of the joys of being a dad,” his father says.

Jen KocherDecember 03, 2025

Father Sues Jackson Newspaper For $25 Million Over Child Abuser Claim

An aviation consultant whose child custody battle raged for years in Wyoming’s court system sued Jackson Hole News&Guide on Tuesday for $25 million, claiming it falsely labeled him a child abuser despite court documents saying otherwise.

Clair McFarlandDecember 03, 2025

Two In Jail On Claims They Were Being Paid To Drive Teen Girl Through Wyoming

Two remained in a Rawlins jail Tuesday on claims they kidnapped and were being paid to transport a 16-year-old girl from Wisconsin to Utah. Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers stopped them Saturday on Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins.

Clair McFarlandDecember 03, 2025

Calvin Alexander, 64, of Cheyenne faces an attempted aggravated vehicular homicide charge, accused of striking and injuring a Laramie County Sheriff’s Office deputy with his vehicle during a wild Monday evening traffic stop.

Cheyenne Man Hits Deputy With Car During Wild Traffic Stop

A 64-year-old Cheyenne man faces an attempted aggravated vehicular homicide charge, accused of striking and injuring a Laramie County Sheriff’s Office deputy with his vehicle during a wild Monday evening traffic stop.

Scott Schwebke & Greg JohnsonDecember 02, 2025