Kevin Joseph Mendibles, a 37-year-old resident of Ethete, Wyoming, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for second-degree murder. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin on February 19 in Casper. In addition to the prison term, Mendibles will serve five years of supervised release and must pay $8,983.19 in restitution along with a $100 special assessment.
The case dates back to February 25, 2024, when officers from the BIA Wind River Police Department responded to an emergency call at a residence in Ethete. They discovered a woman who had suffered severe injuries and was barely breathing. Emergency medical technicians found her without a pulse upon arrival and declared her deceased. The victim had multiple stab wounds and blunt force injuries.
Initially denying involvement, Mendibles later confessed during a follow-up interview that he had killed the victim by beating and stabbing her. He was indicted on May 16, 2024, and pleaded guilty on November 26, 2024.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. PSN focuses on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
