Woman found dead in Wyoming apartment, suspect detained

BASIN (AP) — A 48-year-old man has made his initial court appearance on a charge that he killed a woman in her apartment last week in northern Wyoming.

Donald J. Crouse is charged with first-degree murder.

Big Horn County Circuit Judge Thomas Harrington on Monday has ordered a public defender to take Crouse’s case.

The attorney, Timothy Blatt, was not immediately available for comment.

The Lovell Police Department says the body of 49-year-old Carol Jean Barnes, of Cowley, was found Thursday in Lovell.

Police later arrested Crouse at a convenience store in Mills in Natrona County. The police report said he was covered in blood.

Authorities say the suspect and the victim had been involved in a relationship previously but were not living together.

Officers discovered the body of Barnes in a Lovell apartment during a welfare check that had been called in by a family member.

Further details including the manner of Barnes’ death were not released.