Vanished in the Wild: Wyoming’s Most Mysterious Crimes
Wyoming’s unsolved cold cases stretch across the vast, rugged landscape of America’s least populated state, where geographic isolation and extreme weather conditions often complicate investigations that have remained open for decades. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation maintains a dedicated cold case database that works alongside county sheriff’s departments to review homicides, suspicious deaths, and disappearances dating back to the 1960s. From the remote wilderness of Yellowstone County to the high plains surrounding Cheyenne, these cases represent enduring mysteries that continue to challenge law enforcement in the Cowboy State.
Recent advances in forensic technology have breathed new life into many Wyoming cold cases, with DNA analysis and genetic genealogy providing breakthrough leads in investigations that had previously gone cold. Notable developments include the 2019 identification of a suspect in the 1985 murder of Shelli Wiley in Laramie and the resolution of the long-mysterious “Bitter Creek Betty” case involving unidentified remains found along Interstate 80. Wyoming’s partnership with regional crime laboratories allows investigators to reexamine decades-old evidence using scientific techniques that weren’t available during the original investigations.
Lost on the Open Range: Wyoming’s Unsolved Disappearances
Wyoming’s approach to cold cases leverages the state’s close-knit communities while overcoming challenges posed by its expansive geography and historically transient population. The Wyoming law enforcement agencies collaborate with federal agencies including the FBI and neighboring state departments to share resources and expertise when tackling these complex investigations. Annual case review sessions bring together investigators from Wyoming’s 23 counties to identify potential connections between unsolved crimes that might span multiple jurisdictions across the Rocky Mountain region.
Other initiatives like the Wyoming Missing Persons Database work to maintain public awareness through digital platforms, roadside billboards, and periodic media coverage targeting both residents and the millions of tourists who pass through Wyoming annually. Each cold case represents not just an unsolved crime but Wyoming law enforcement’s commitment to pursuing justice despite the challenges posed by time and the state’s unique geographic and demographic characteristics.
Wyoming Cold Cases: Mysteries in the Equality State
Here is a growing collection of cold or unsolved cases from Wyoming (WY) that I’ve researched and documented, sorted from oldest to newest:
Cold cases will be explored in the future!
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Otherwise, I’ll see you on the trail of our next unsolved mystery. Until then, stay safe, Cold Case Explorers!
—Skylar Aries