Three face charges in bull rider’s drug death

Each is accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine or heroin in the death of Bryan Guthrie.

By Michael Van Cassell
mcassell@wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE — Three men have been charged in federal court in connection with what authorities say is the drug-related death of a local champion bull rider.Bryan J. Guthrie, a Cheyenne native who for three months this year held the top spot in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings, died Dec. 2. He was 21.

And while Laramie County Coroner Marty Luna says his office has not determined a cause of death for Guthrie and is awaiting reports, three local men made their first appearances in federal court Friday in connection with the death.

Kyle Walla, 20; Joel D. Murdoch, 22; and Rhett T. Epler, 26, have each been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine or heroin, the use of which resulted in a death.

The penalty for that crime is 20 years to life in federal prison.

The three remain in federal custody without bond. A detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, and a judge is set to decide if there is enough evidence to send them to trial.

Epler’s attorney, Thomas Lee, did not return a call for comment. Walla and Murdoch requested court- appointed attorneys at the hearing Friday.

Guthrie’s father, Rodney Guthrie, said the family had been through enough and declined to comment.

Details surrounding the death have not been revealed, and assistant U.S. attorney L. Robert Murray said he could not discuss specifics because it is an ongoing investigation.

Murray did not specify what drugs may have killed Guthrie. The charging documents mention heroin and cocaine as part of the crime.

“The ultimate toxicology in these cases tends to be the mixture of these controlled substances,” Murray said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges the defendants committed the crime from August to Dec. 2.