All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
(Riverton, WY) – It was reported on Wednesday that 33 year-old Quinn Duran of Riverton has been charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault and battery in connection to the death of William Yellowrobe Sr, according to a press release issued by the Riverton Police Department (RPD) on June 26.
Duran’s initial appearance hearing was held the same day the release was issued, and his preliminary hearing has been set for July 3.
The affidavit document filed on June 26 states that on February 19, Riverton Police Department (RPD) officers were dispatched to a local church in the E Park Ave. area for a welfare check on a subject, who was reported to be laying by the side of the building with what appeared to be blood stains around their body.
Upon arriving at the scene, RPD found the victim, later determined to be Yellowrobe, “frozen to the ground,” with “multiple deep lacerations to his head.”
RPD was later able to obtain surveillance footage from several businesses and private entities, which showed Yellowrobe arriving at the scene with several identified individuals, the affidavit goes on to state.
The other individuals could later be seen leaving Duran and Yellowrobe in the area in this footage, then at around 4:22 PM Duran could be seen “possibly punching and kicking” Yellowrobe.
An anonymous witness also later advised RPD that they saw Yellowrobe being pushed by Duran in that area/timeframe.
Duran was then tracked to a local bar through the various surveillance footage, where RPD later made contact with him.
RPD went on to collect clothes from Duran that were sent to the Wyoming Crime Lab in Cheyenne, where it was determined that all three articles of clothing had tested positive for human blood containing Yellowrobe’s DNA.
Three interviews were reportedly conducted with Duran, during which he stated that he could not recall “being at the church or the events involving the decedent,” that Yellowrobe “might have verbally threatened him and shown disrespect,” and he acknowledged “the possibility that he might have escalated the assault too far.”
Following a warrant being issued for his arrest, Duran’s initial appearance hearing took place on June 26, and his preliminary hearing was set for July 3.
A manslaughter felony charge holds a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.
An aggravated assault and battery felony charge holds a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
County 10 will provide updates as they become available, which can be viewed here.