✦ ASHGROVE COUNTY, WY  |  EST. 1891  |  OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE
⚠ CASE REOPENED ● SITE ONLINE Last Updated: 03/11/2026
Last updated: 03/07/2026 — 11:02 MST
// WelcomeAshgrove County Sheriff's Office
⚑ Active Notice — Case #97-0441 Reopened

Following discovery of unprocessed evidence during the archive digitization project, Case #97-0441 — originally logged October 14, 1997 — has been formally reopened. The ACSO is actively seeking information from the public. View case details →

Ashgrove County, Wyoming
Ashgrove County — Wind River foothills, central Wyoming

Welcome to the official online presence of the Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office. This department is committed to maintaining public safety, transparency, and community trust across all 2,400 square miles of Ashgrove County, Wyoming.

This website is updated regularly with public safety notices, press releases, and department information. For emergencies, always dial 9-1-1. For non-emergency matters, contact us at (307) 362-1293.

★   ★   ★
14
Sworn Deputies
2,400
Sq Mi Jurisdiction
9,624
County Population
135
Years of Service
// Recent ActivityLatest News
March 5, 2026

Case #97-0441 Formally Reopened After Archive Discovery

The ACSO has confirmed that Case #97-0441, connected to a series of disappearances in fall–winter 1997, has been officially reopened following the recovery of a previously unprocessed evidence box during the department's digitization project.

Read full release →
February 28, 2026

Missing Person Report Filed — T. Alderman, 34

The ACSO is requesting public assistance in locating Thomas Alderman, 34, of Ashgrove Township. He was last seen on Main Street, Ashgrove, on the evening of February 28. Anyone with information is urged to call (307) 362-1293 immediately.

View missing persons registry →
January 15, 2026

Sheriff D. Hargrove Formally Confirmed

Following the retirement of 22-year Sheriff R. Calloway, Deputy Director Dana Hargrove has been formally confirmed as the 14th Sheriff of Ashgrove County.

Read full release →
January 3, 2026

Archive Digitization Project Underway

The ACSO has launched a multi-year initiative to digitize and catalog case files, evidence logs, and departmental records dating back to 1971. Select documents will be made available through this website as they are processed and cleared for public release.

December 14, 2025

Department Joins Social Media

The ACSO is now active on Instagram at @acsowyoming. The account will be used for public safety announcements, missing persons notices, and community engagement. Follow us for real-time updates.

Ashgrove Township, Wyoming
Ashgrove Township, Ashgrove County — central Wyoming
// Quick ReferencePublic Information
Emergency9-1-1
Non-Emergency(307) 362-1293
Anonymous Tipstips@ashgrovecounty.org
Public Recordsrecords@ashgrovecounty.org
Office HoursMon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST
AddressCounty Road 4, Ashgrove, WY 82099
Last updated: 03/07/2026 — 09:45 MST
// Public CommunicationsNews & Press Releases

Official press releases and public statements from the Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office. All releases are archived and available upon public records request.

PR-2026-009 March 5, 2026  —  10:30 MST
For Immediate Release

Case #97-0441 Formally Reopened Following Archive Discovery

ASHGROVE, WY — The Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office announced today the formal reopening of Case #97-0441, a missing persons investigation originally filed October 14, 1997 and marked unresolved in March 1998.

The case was flagged for review after department staff, conducting routine cataloging as part of the ongoing archive digitization project, recovered a sealed evidence box associated with the original investigation. The box had been mislabeled and stored with unrelated records in an off-site facility. Contents of the box are currently under examination by Detective S. Dunmore and have not been disclosed publicly.

Case #97-0441 was one of five missing persons reports filed in Ashgrove County between October 1997 and March 1998. The original lead investigator, ████████████████, was himself reported missing in December 1997 while the cases were ongoing. That disappearance — logged as Case #97-0591 — was never resolved and remains open.

The public is encouraged to contact the ACSO with any information, however dated it may seem. Anonymous tips can be submitted via email at tips@ashgrovecounty.org .

Contact: R. Voss, Public Information Officer  |  (307) 362-1293 ext. 4
PR-2026-007 February 28, 2026  —  21:14 MST
For Immediate Release

Missing Person — Thomas R. Alderman, 34

ASHGROVE, WY — The Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office is requesting the public's assistance in locating Thomas Raymond Alderman, 34, of Ashgrove Township, Wyoming.

Mr. Alderman was last seen on the evening of Saturday, February 28, 2026, in the vicinity of Main Street and Route 12 in downtown Ashgrove. He was wearing a dark green canvas jacket, blue jeans, and brown work boots. He is described as 5'11", 185 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Mr. Alderman's vehicle — a 1998 dark blue Ford F-150, Wyoming plates WY-3841-K — has not been located. His employer reported him absent without contact on Monday, March 2. Family members state that Mr. Alderman had recently begun researching historical ACSO records and had spoken about "something he found" in the weeks prior to his disappearance.

Anyone with information on Mr. Alderman's whereabouts is urged to contact the ACSO immediately at (307) 362-1293.

ACSO patrol vehicle
ACSO Unit 6 — dispatched Feb 28, 2026 in connection with the Alderman report
Contact: R. Voss, Public Information Officer  |  (307) 362-1293 ext. 4
PR-2026-003 January 3, 2026  —  08:00 MST

ACSO Launches Archive Digitization Initiative

ASHGROVE, WY — The Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office has commenced a multi-phase project to digitize, index, and archive departmental records dating back to 1971. The initiative, overseen by Records and Archives Coordinator B. Colton, is expected to run through late 2026.

Phase one covers patrol logs, incident reports, and associated evidence documentation from 1971–1990. Phase two will address the period 1990–2005, which includes case files of particular historical interest. Digitized materials cleared for public release will be made available through this website.

ACSO Records Room
ACSO Records Room, lower level — archival materials currently under Phase 2 review
Contact: B. Colton, Records & Archives  |  (307) 362-1293 ext. 2
PR-2026-001 January 15, 2026  —  14:00 MST

Dana Hargrove Confirmed as 14th Sheriff of Ashgrove County

ASHGROVE, WY — Dana Hargrove has been formally sworn in as the 14th Sheriff of Ashgrove County, succeeding retiring Sheriff Robert Calloway, who served 22 years in the role. Sheriff Hargrove, who previously served as Undersheriff for six years, has 18 years total with the department. In a brief statement, Sheriff Hargrove cited the archive digitization initiative and "unfinished business in our own files" as top priorities for 2026.

Contact: R. Voss, Public Information Officer  |  (307) 362-1293 ext. 4
PR-2025-041 December 14, 2025  —  09:00 MST

ACSO Launches Official Social Media Presence

ASHGROVE, WY — The Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office has established an official Instagram account at @acsowyoming. The account will be used for public safety announcements, missing persons advisories, and community information. Members of the public are encouraged to follow the account for real-time updates.

Contact: R. Voss, Public Information Officer  |  (307) 362-1293 ext. 4
Last updated: 03/07/2026 — 09:14 MST
// Active & Cold CasesMissing Persons Registry

The following individuals have been reported missing within Ashgrove County jurisdiction. Contact the ACSO immediately at (307) 362-1293 or submit a tip at tips@ashgrovecounty.org.

⚠ Note — 1997/1998 Case Files
Several entries from 1997–1998 are subject to ongoing redaction review as part of the reopened Case #97-0441 investigation. Full details will be released publicly as they are cleared. A previously unprocessed evidence box recovered January 2026 is under active examination.
Case #97-0388● Cold Case
Case 97-0388

Gary R. Melford

ReportedOct 22, 1997
Age at time41 / Male
Last seenRural Rt. 4, Ashgrove Co.
CircumstancesVehicle found; no occupant
StatusUnresolved
Case #97-0441● Reopened
Case 97-0441

████████████████

ReportedOct 14, 1997
Age at time██ / ████████
Last seenAshgrove Township
CircumstancesNo forced entry; door unlocked
StatusUnder Active Review
Case #97-0509● Cold Case
Case 97-0509

████████████████

ReportedNov 30, 1997
Age at time██ / ████████
Last seenRural Rt. 7, Ashgrove Co.
CircumstancesDid not return from hike
StatusUnresolved
Case #97-0591● Cold Case
Case 97-0591

Det. ████████████████

ReportedDec 9, 1997
Age at time38 / Male
Last seenACSO Field Office, Rt. 12
CircumstancesDid not report for duty; vehicle recovered 2 mi. east
NoteWas lead investigator on #97-0441 at time of disappearance
StatusUnresolved
Case #98-0012● Cold Case
Case 98-0012

████████████████

ReportedJan 9, 1998
Age at time██ / ████████
Last seenRural Rt. 12, Ashgrove Co.
CircumstancesNo signs of struggle at residence
StatusUnresolved
Case #26-0031● Active
Thomas Alderman

Thomas R. Alderman

ReportedFeb 28, 2026
Age34 / Male
Last seenMain St. & Rt. 12, Ashgrove
Vehicle1998 Ford F-150, dark blue, WY-3841-K
NoteHad been researching historical ACSO records prior to disappearance
StatusActive Investigation

This registry reflects cases within ACSO jurisdiction only. For statewide missing persons information, contact the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) or the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

Last updated: 01/15/2026 — 14:33 MST
// Department InfoAbout the Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office

The Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office was established in 1891, the same year Wyoming achieved statehood. For over 130 years, the department has served the residents of Ashgrove County with a commitment to integrity, professionalism, and public safety.

Our jurisdiction covers approximately 2,400 square miles of high plains and mountain terrain in central Wyoming. The ACSO operates as the primary law enforcement agency for all unincorporated areas of the county, working in close coordination with the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming DCI, and neighboring county agencies.

ACSO Headquarters, County Road 4
Ashgrove County Sheriff's Office — County Road 4, Ashgrove WY  |  Est. 1923, renovated 2004
// PersonnelDepartment Leadership
Sheriff

Dana Hargrove

Confirmed January 2026. Previously Undersheriff for 6 years. 18 years total with the ACSO. Overseeing the current archival review and reopened 1997 investigation.

18 yrs service
Undersheriff

Marcus Trellis

17 years with the department. Manages daily operations, personnel, and inter-agency coordination. Acting Sheriff during Hargrove's field duties.

17 yrs service
Chief Deputy

Paul Wainwright

Leads patrol division across county routes and rural areas. Coordinates directly with Wyoming Highway Patrol on road incidents and county boundary cases.

11 yrs service
Detective

Sandra Dunmore

Investigative division lead. Currently assigned to Case #97-0441 review and the Alderman missing persons case. Joined ACSO after 8 years with Wyoming DCI.

4 yrs service
Records & Archives

Ben Colton

Overseeing the archive digitization project. Recovered the previously unprocessed evidence box associated with Case #97-0441 during routine Phase 2 cataloging.

9 yrs service
Public Information

Ruth Voss

Handles all press inquiries, public records requests, and social media. Primary point of contact for media regarding the reopened 1997 case files.

6 yrs service
★   ★   ★
// By the NumbersDepartment Overview
Founded1891 — by first Sheriff Elias Mossler following Wyoming statehood
Current SheriffDana Hargrove (confirmed Jan. 2026)
Sworn Deputies14
Civilian Staff6
Jurisdiction~2,400 sq mi — all unincorporated Ashgrove County
County Population9,624 (2020 Census)
Patrol Vehicles8 active units
Dispatch24/7 — shared with Ashgrove County Fire Dept.
// HistoryDepartment Timeline
  • 1891
    Department founded by first Sheriff Elias Mossler following Wyoming statehood. Original staff: two deputies, one office on Ashgrove Township main road.
  • 1923
    New headquarters constructed on County Road 4. Building still in use today; renovated in 1967 and 2004.
  • 1958
    First patrol vehicles introduced. Prior to this, deputies patrolled on horseback or in personal vehicles.
  • 1974
    Dispatch center established in coordination with Ashgrove County Fire. 24-hour coverage began the following year.
  • 1997
    Series of unresolved disappearances — fall through winter. Five missing persons reports filed between October 1997 and March 1998. Lead investigator ████████████████ (Case #97-0591) disappeared December 9, 1997 while actively working the cases. Investigation stalled. All cases marked unresolved and archived in 1998. [ CASE #97-0441 REOPENED 2026 ]
  • 2004
    Sheriff R. Calloway elected. Served 22 years. Oversaw department growth from 8 to 14 sworn deputies.
  • 2026
    Sheriff D. Hargrove confirmed. Archive digitization project launched. Evidence box from 1997 investigation recovered. Case #97-0441 formally reopened, February 28: Thomas Alderman reported missing.