March 6, 2023 |
Photo – WY DCI Badge – courtesy WY DCI web-page
The Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation suggests that more arrests may come after the drug-related deaths of three county residents last month.
One man faces charges already. Nearly two weeks after the fentanyl deaths of Cassidee Wingo and Richard Heap in early February, 23-year-old Max Schneider of Saratoga was arrested and charged with two counts of manslaughter and one count of distributing a controlled substance. DCI’s Region Two Commander Ronnie Jones said more arrests could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
Jones said an unnamed federal agency is assisting DCI with the investigation. Jones refused to say which federal agency his department was working with. He said releasing that information might compromise the investigation.
Jones said DCI typically doesn’t release much information to the public because DCI casts a wide net during investigations. He said DCI searches tend to extend outside of the location where the initial crime occurred.
Jones said investigations involving death tend to take a long time. He said assistance from local law enforcement is helping speed up the probe.
Court documents allege that Wingo and Heap died after consuming fentanyl laced cocaine allegedly provided by Schneider. According to investigators, an unnamed Hanna man, also died from the same batch of tainted drugs. Jones said DCI is withholding the Hanna man’s identity as part of the investigation.
