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Photograph of Jen Kocher.
Features, Investigative Reporter

Jen Kocher

Jen Kocher is Cowboy State Daily's reporter in Gillette, Wyoming.

Hard-hitting, thorough, and relentless, Kocher is a bulldog who prides herself in finding the stories that are challenging, meaningful, and difficult for others to attempt.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Jennifer has lived all over the West and moved to Wyoming just under a decade ago where shes written for dozens of magazines and publications throughout the state.

With masters degrees in creative writing and nonfiction and several awards under her belt, she loves writing features and long-form stories as well.

Outside of work, Jennifer loves anything to do with birds, wine, hiking or traveling.

Latest from Jen Kocher

Rep. Abby Angelos

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

John Bear, left, and Doug Moore

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

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.

'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

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