January 23rd update – Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Department issues statement
On January 17, 2020 County 10, a Fremont County media source, published an article regarding a new episode of the podcast “Dead & Gone in Wyoming” reporting the discovery of human remains in the area of Jim Bridger Power Plant in Sweetwater County. The podcast was intended to bring light to the discovery and a possible correlation between those remains and the case of missing person, Sharon Baldeagle, who was last seen in Casper, Wyoming in September 1984.
The release of information for the podcast by a volunteer for the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office was not an official statement from this office and contained erroneous information, which we wish to dispel. In June 2019 a portion of a human skull was discovered in the area of Jim Bridger Power Plant, and reported to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Land Management. At the time, the age of the remains was unable to be determined. In late September 2019, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, Sweetwater County Coroner’s Office, Bureau of Land Management, and University of Wyoming Anthropology Department personnel conducted an additional search in order to locate more remains from the initial discovery. At this time, additional portions of skeletal remains were located and taken to the University of Wyoming for additional analysis, which is still underway.
While the case remains under investigation, it appears that the remains are that of a younger female of either European or Native American descent and are, more likely than not, prehistoric in nature. Additional testing and analysis is being conducted by the University of Wyoming Anthropology Department, which should provide further insight as to the age and origin of the remains.
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the calls from diligent podcast listeners hoping to provide insight into the whereabouts of Ms. Baldeagle, but at this time we do not have reason to believe that the located remains are those of Ms. Baldeagle. The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office apologizes for the false hope provided to Ms. Baldeagle’s family due to this erroneous information, but remains hopeful that she will eventually be located.
——- Dead & Gone in Wyoming update ——–
The podcast, Dead & Gone in Wyoming, provided a brief update from the Sheriff’s statement Thursday afternoon.
—— ORIGINAL POST BELOW —–
Modern human remains of a young, Native American female have been found in Sweetwater County, according to an official involved in the law enforcement search.
A biologist working in an area near the Jim Bridger Power Plant found a human skull bone in September and notified authorities.
An ensuing search of the area by the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Department uncovered additional parts of a human skull, including a tooth, as well as other bones.
The remains were determined to be those of a native female in her teens. The find was categorized as non-ancient and the remains are estimated to have been at the location for 20-30 years.
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Department compared the find to unsolved cases in their jurisdiction and forwarded the remains to state officials.
The unreported discovery was brought to the attention of a podcaster in recent weeks who is now attempting to get the word out in the hopes that the remains might be identified.
Scott Fuller, host of the “Dead & Gone In Wyoming Podcast” on the 10Cast Network, says the remains could be those of a girl who went missing in that area of the state more than three decades ago.
“There’s a remote possibility these remains might be Sharon’s”, Fuller said in reference to Sharon Baldeagle, a 12-year-old girl who disappeared from the Casper area 35 years ago.
“Either way, it’s important to report these details and get the word out about the find,” Fuller added. “They may or may not be Sharon’s remains, but they are somebody’s.”
Sharon Baldeagle ran away from her South Dakota home in 1984. While traveling across Wyoming, Sharon and a friend were abducted and assaulted by a man named Royal Russel Long, who was later convicted of the crimes. Long died in prison in 1993.
For more information about Sharon’s case, click here.