Fire On The Mountain

"CASPER, WY — The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an apparent murder/suicide on Casper Mountain yesterday, Sgt. Mike Steinberg said Friday.

"Authorities received a call about 4:30 p.m. about two bodies in a vehicle at the Tower Road campground, Steinberg said.

"A preliminary investigation indicated a 76-year-old female and a 48-year-old male died from apparent gunshot wounds, he said.

"Evidence at the scene points to the male shooting the female and then himself, Steinberg said.

"Steinberg declined to comment if the male and female were related.

"Further evidence indicates the male planned the event, he said.

"Tower Road was closed during the investigation and it is now open. There is no threat to public safety, Steinberg said.

"The case is still under investigation and more details will be released next week."

From k2radio.com...

"Foul Odor" Leads Police To Gruesome Scene

"CASPER, WY — A routine welfare check by Casper Police on Friday turned into an apparent murder/suicide investigation, authorities said Monday morning.

"Police were called to an apartment in the 1200 block of Boulder Drive shortly before 7 p.m. Friday, Lt. Mike Thompson said. A resident of the apartment complex requested a welfare check for their neighbors because they smelled a foul odor coming from the apartment.

"Police discovered a man and a woman, both in their 20s and presumed to be in a relationship, whom police believe had been deceased for few days, Thompson said. Officers remained on the scene until the early morning hours of Saturday.

"Police believe the two people died of gunshot wounds, but a coroner will determine the causes of death this week, Thompson said."

From trib.com...

Unknown Weapon Used In Double Murder/Suicide

"CASPER, WY — A man with an edged weapon killed one person in Casper and a faculty member at Casper College before committing suicide on campus, police said today.

"Police found the suspect and one of the victims in a third-floor classroom in the school's physical science building after responding to a traumatic injury call shortly after 9 a.m., said Police Chief Chris Walsh. The second victim was found in the street on the Hawthorne Avenue near 39th Street.

"Walsh declined to identify the dead, pending notification of their families. He did say all three were adults, and that the suspect wasn’t a current student at the school.

"No one else was injured in the attacks.

"`It’s a troubling day,` Walsh told reporters at a press conference four hours after the attacks. `It’s a day you hope never comes into your community.`

"Police believe there was some relationship between the three dead, but Walsh did not offer any details. He said a motive for the attacks wasn't clear. The attacks don't appear to be `school-motivated,` according to a press release from city officials.

"Investigators believe the suspect acted alone. The community isn’t in any danger, Walsh said.

"Asked about reports from students that a bow and arrow were used in the attacks and suicide, Walsh said an `edged weapon` was used but wouldn't specifically identify what weapons were involved in the attacks. No firearms were used, he said.

"Police have blocked off the 3700-3800 block of Hawthorne Avenue in Casper. Late morning radio scanner traffic and on-scene reports indicated a dead body was on the street."

From trib.com...

Alcohol May Have Played Role In Murder/Suicide

"CASPER, WY — Police say they believe the deaths of a Casper couple were the result of a murder-suicide. The bodies of 60-year-old Walt McMillin and his 55-year-old wife Jodi were discovered around 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Investigators say someone from Walt McMillan’s place of employment called police after he failed to show up for work at the Salvation Army.

"The bodies were found in the living room of the couple’s home on 428 West 12th. Police say both had died from gunshot wounds to the head from a .38 caliber revolver. Officials believe the shooting happened sometime Tuesday between 10:00 p.m. and midnight.

"Police are still trying to determine who the shooter was. According to investigators, alcohol use may have played a role in the deadly shooting. Autopsies are planned this weekend."

From KTWO...

UPDATE:

05/25/2012 — Police confirm alcohol theory...

Death At 97 MPH

"LANDER, WY — The Wyoming family was driving to a doctor's appointment when a distraught teenager saw his chance in their headlights, authorities say. Matthew Denton throttled his SUV to 97 mph, steered into the opposite lanes, and kept his foot off the brake.

"The head-on crash just after midnight Nov. 10 killed five people including 17-year-old Denton and four in a Dodge Caravan minivan: 41-year-old Corina Surrell-Norman; her ex-husband, Arvin Surrell; their 25-year-old son, Ethan Surrell; and his 20-year-old girlfriend, Melinda Escamilla.

"The minivan was going between 50 and 55 mph when the crash happened four miles south of Lander, a town of about 7,400 at the foot of the Wind River Range

"The crash happened on a stretch of Wyoming Highway 789 that had two southbound lanes and a northbound lane. Denton was headed north when he crossed into both southbound lanes.

"The collision occurred in the inner southbound lane. The van tumbled off the highway and caught fire. Two people were ejected from the van and the other two burned inside.

"Fremont County Coroner Ed McAuslan said the collision killed all four in the van instantly."

From The Seattle Times...

Deadly Love Triangle

"CODY, WY — One man died Friday night another was injured in an attempted murder-suicide after a confrontation over a woman in Cody, Wyo.

"A news release from Cody Police Chief Perry Rockvam said John Tully, 62, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and Larry Jansma, 53, was shot at least once at a Cody home.

"On Friday evening, Kathy Stahl, 52, and Jansma were at a Cody liquor store when they bumped into Tully, who dated Stahl until last November, according to the release.
Rockvam wrote that Tully intentionally bumped into Jansma and then began speaking with Stahl before Jansma left.

"Stahl left the liquor store and Jansma decided to follow her home, at 3220 Sheridan Ave., to make sure she was safe. When the pair went into her garage, they found Tully waiting inside and confronted him before he left, the release states.

"As he was leaving, Tully said "If I am going down, you're coming with with me" to Jansma, Rockvam wrote.

"Stahl and Jansma went into her home and spotted Tully outside about 20 minutes later. Stahl called police shortly after 11 p.m. to report that Tully was trying to break into her home.

"`The dispatcher receiving the call then heard a woman scream and the phone then went dead,` Rockvam wrote in the release.

"When officers arrived, they learned that Tully shot Jansma at least once from outside through a window while Stahl was on the phone.

"Stahl tried to barricade herself in a bathroom before Tully forced himself into the bathroom and shot himself with a .44 magnum pistol, the release states.

"Officers found Tully dead on a hallway floor near the bathroom with a revolver next to his body. A short time later, they found Jansma conscious and breathing on the dining room floor.

"Rockvam, reached by phone Saturday afternoon, said he was unaware of any restraining order against Tully.

"`I don't know if there's any previous history,` he said. `If there was, it wasn't reported to us.`

"The extent of Jansma's injuries was not immediately available.

"A search of Tully's home turned up what appears to be a suicide note and an empty holster.

"Rockvam said police waited until Saturday to release details because they were still piecing together what happened.

"`We wanted to do a canvas in the area,` Rockvam said. `We wanted to look for any other witnesses that heard the gunshots or saw what happened. We couldn't get people to answer the doors, and we didn't want release any information until we followed up on what happened.`"

Source: Billings Gazette...

Pair Found Dead After Early Morning Shooting

"CASPER, WY - Casper police are investigating the early morning shooting deaths of a man and woman as a possible murder-suicide.

"The victims, who were both in their 40s, each suffered a single gunshot wound. A rifle was found near the bodies, authorities say.

"The couple was found dead inside the upstairs portion of their Casper residence in the 500 block of Wind River Avenue.

"Speaking this morning, Sgt. Steve Schulz said that while preliminary reports indicate a murder-suicide, an investigation is ongoing.

"`It is not an open-and-shut case,` he said. `We are looking at other avenues before we make a final determination.`

"Authorities received a 911 telephone call about the incident at approximately 1:21 a.m. today. The caller, who police declined to identify but who they say lived in the home, made the call after hearing gunshots and finding the victims unresponsive, Schulz said.

"Natrona County Coroner Connie Jacobson declined to release the victims' names, pending notification of family members."

Source: trib.com...

Double Shooting Ruled Attempted Murder/Suicide

"ROCK SPRINGS, WY - A Rock Springs woman is dead and her husband is in stable condition in a Salt Lake City Hospital in an apparent murder-suicide last week.

"The incident is still under investigation by the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.

"On June 25, deputies were dispatched to the residence of Terrence and Cara Hayes north of Rock Springs. The sheriff’s office was notified by friends of Cara Hayes that she had sent a text message saying “Come get me.”

"The victim had been to dinner with friends and they had dropped her at home a short time before receiving the text message.

"When patrol deputies arrived at about midnight, there was no answer at the door so they forced entry into the residence and found Cara Hayes, 42, dead of a gunshot wound to the face.

"In another room they found her husband, Terrence Hayes, seriously injured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound under the chin. A large-caliber revolver was recovered at the scene.

"Sweetwater County Coroner Dale Majhanovich pronounced Cara Hayes dead at the scene.

"Terrence Hayes was first transported to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County then flown to Utah.

"According to Undersheriff Craig Jackson, Terrence Hayes will survive his injuries. No charges have yet been filed, but all reports are being forwarded to the Sweetwater County Attorney’s Office as the investigation continues."

From The Green River Star...

Mother Suspected In Double Murder/Suicide

"CHEYENNE, WY - Cheyenne police found a couple and their 2-year-old son dead at their home on Saturday, victims of an apparent double homicide and suicide.

"At 5 p.m. Saturday, relatives of Kelly J. and Joy M. Hofer of 4715 Hickory Place asked Cheyenne police to check on their welfare. Hickory Place is near the intersection of Dell Range Boulevard and Windmill Road.

"Police say the incident occurred Friday.

"Police walked in the back door of the couple's residence and found Hofer, 28, his 31-year-old wife and their 2-year-old son Gunnar dead.

"They were in the bed in the master bedroom on the second floor.

"The adults suffered single gunshot wounds to the head. Based on the initial investigation, police believe that Joy Hofer shot her husband and then herself, according to a news release.

"As of 4:45 p.m. Sunday, police did not know the cause of death of Gunnar Hofer. There were no visible signs of trauma to the toddler."

From WyomingNews.com...