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. Following his prison term, Mendibles will also serve five years of supervised release. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay $8,983.19 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.
Court documents reveal that the incident occurred on February 25, 2024, when the BIA Wind River Police Department responded to a call about a severely beaten woman who was barely breathing at a residence in Ethete. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim with multiple stab wounds and blunt force injuries. She was declared deceased after EMTs found no pulse.
Initially denying involvement during police interviews, Mendibles later confessed to killing the victim by beating and stabbing her. He had been indicted on May 16, 2024, and pleaded guilty on November 26 of the same year.
The investigation into the crime 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), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. PSN focuses on building trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.