By Shannon Lukens.

 

The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, just north of the Moffat County border in Wyoming, is investigating the death of a 30-year-old man from Teton County. The body of Colter Wesley Watsabaugh was found near a dirt road in Reliance, Wyoming, north of Rock Springs. Watsabaugh had been working in Rock Springs.

The death has been ruled a homicide.

A suspect who authorities believe was involved in Watsabaugh’s death has already been taken into custody.

The sheriff’s office is looking for a black 2004 Honda Pilot with Wyoming plates 4-44200 that may be related to the investigation.

If found, Sweetwater County Sheriff’s spokesperson Jason Mower cautioned against tampering with the vehicle, and instead urged anyone with information about the vehicle or this case to please contact the sheriff’s office detective division at (307) 922-5340.

 

Press release from Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office; July 18, 2023.

Sheriff’s office investigates homicide in Reliance, asks for public’s help to find SUV

SWEETWATER COUNTY, Wyo. – The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 30-year-old Teton County man whose body was discovered on Sunday afternoon by passersby near a dirt side-road in Reliance, Wyoming, north of Rock Springs.

The decedent was identified as Colter Wesley Watsabaugh, 30, originally of Teton County, Wyoming. Watsabaugh had been living and working in Rock Springs prior to his death.

According to sheriff’s detectives, in concert with the county coroner’s office and the county attorney’s office, Watsabaugh’s death has been ruled a homicide.

Other agencies assisting with the homicide investigation include the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

A suspect who authorities believe was involved in Watsabaugh’s death has already been taken into custody.

According to sheriff’s office spokesperson Jason Mower, detectives are withholding release of the suspect’s identity, citing the integrity of an active and ongoing investigation and pending formal charges.

Mower said, “We have every reason to believe this was an isolated incident, the suspect is currently in custody, and we have no further reason to believe there is any ongoing threat to the public. We hope to provide further updates and details as our investigation unfolds.”

The sheriff’s office is, however, asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle possibly related to the investigation. The vehicle is identified as a black 2004 Honda Pilot with Wyoming license plates “4-44200.” It is possible the SUV’s license plates have since been removed, and the vehicle may have been abandoned in an outlying area of the county.

If found, Mower cautioned against tampering with the vehicle, and instead urged anyone with information about the vehicle or this case to please contact the sheriff’s office detective division at (307) 922-5340.