RIVERTON (WNE) — Fremont County Coroner Erin Ivie ruled two recent deaths as homicides, and her office’s case dockets in the deaths shed light on how the pair were killed. 

The most recent death occurred on February 25, when Inez Whiteman, 37, died as a result of a stab wound to the chest. The BIA and FBI are investigating the death, which Ivie ruled a homicide. 

Ivie also ruled the February 19 death of William Yellowrobe Sr. as a homicide due to blunt-force traumatic injuries to the head and ethanol intoxication; his blood-alcohol content was measured at .31% at the time of his death. 

Riverton Police were called for a welfare check at 9:30 a.m. that morning after Yellowbear was discovered bloodied with possible signs of trauma near St. James Episcopal Church. 

He was pronounced dead there; police are seeking information from anyone who may have heard a disturbance the day before, February 18, between 3-9 p.m. 

The two deaths are among three homicides recorded in Fremont County in January and February. 

The first occurred on January 2, when Ezekiel “Zeke” Frank James Ute allegedly stabbed and killed Lawrence Oldman III while the two were driving around drinking on Riverview Road outside Riverton. 

Ute has been charged with second-degree murder in Oldman’s death. 

Thus far in 2024, Fremont County’s homicide rate is about triple the national average for areas with similar populations, according to the National Statistic Comparison from CDC – National Vital Statistics System.