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Press Release

FEDERAL JURY ACQUITS ETHETE WOMAN OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming

United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that a federal jury returned a not guilty verdict in a case against BURDETTE LYNN MESTETH, a.k.a. Burdette Lynn Seminole, 32, of Ethete, Wyoming, for involuntary manslaughter. The trial took place in Casper, Wyoming before Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl and lasted three days.

The indictment stemmed from a September 13, 2020, motor vehicle crash on Blue Sky Highway on the Wind River Reservation during which an occupant was ejected and declared deceased at the scene while Mesteth was entrapped in the driver’s seat and had to be extricated from the vehicle. 

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Wyoming Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case.

Case Number: 0:21-cr-00053

Contact

Contact: Lori Hogan (Contractor)
United States Attorney Spokesman
Office: 307-772-2124
Email: usawy.pio@usdoj.gov
Twitter: @usaowy

Updated December 22, 2021
Component
USAO - Wyoming
Press Release Number: 21-083

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