Wyoming Authorities Tack on Felony Charge for Illegally Killed Cow in the Cody Deer-Killing Case

Things went from really bad to worse for a Michigan man embroiled in a big-time poaching case in Cody, Wyoming. Back in September, 20-year-old Joshua Wielhouwer was arraigned on 18 wildlife-related charges including nine counts of unlicensed taking of a big game animal and nine counts of wanton destruction of a big game animal after multiple deer carcasses were found scattered throughout the town of Cody.

In what was originally thought of as a string of mysterious deaths or killings, eventually pointed to a silver Ford Fusion with Michigan tags and a compound bow. State game wardens spotted the vehicle and noticed a flash light in the hands of a man looking like he was inspecting what was later revealed to be a dead mule deer. The suspect evaded wardens but later turned himself in after an arrest warrant was made in his name.

The arrest resulted in the aforementioned 18 misdemeanor counts for the illegal killing of nine mule deer along with state-recommended $36,000 in bail, which would equal the restitution he would be ordered to pay, if convicted.

More Death

As if the young man wasn’t in enough trouble, this week authorities were able to attach Wielhouwer to another illegal killing, this one being bovine in nature. Stepping outside of his comfort zone, it seems as though the accused tested his illegal compound bow skills on a cow before going on a tear across Cody. 

According to reports, a cow was found dead at Mooncrest Ranch on Rattlesnake Mountain in September of 2023 - a year ahead of the deer killings in Cody. Ranchers originally believed that the dead cow was the result of predation and contacted the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to report the incident. It wasn’t until responding officers “found holes in the carcass that appeared to be from an arrowhead” that foul play was suspected.

An affidavit submitted by Park County Sheriff’s Investigator Clayton Creel revealed that the animal appeared to have been shot twice in the stomach. It was later estimated that the cow was worth anywhere between $2,500 and $2,800, putting it above the felony threshold of $1,000. The employee gave a statement which included descriptions of the vehicles he’d seen in the vicinity the day of the incident, but the case went dormant until the deer killings made headlines this past summer.

As the investigation from this past summer’s incidents continued, officials decided it was a good idea to bust open the cold case involving the dead cow out at Mooncrest Ranch. Charging documents revealed that a broadhead was found in Wielhouwer’s vehicle that appeared to match a bloody one that had been recovered from the ranch. In addition to the broadhead, photos on the accused’s phone appeared to have been taken close to “where the deceased was found” on September 12, 2023 - the day before the cow carcass was found.

A hunter who’d been in the area that same day also reported that he saw a silver Honda car with Michigan tags, providing investigators with a close match to the suspect’s vehicle. Looking as if the case now had a bow on it, the Park County Attorney’s Office added the felony count for property destruction to Wielhouwer’s growing list of charges.

The young man’s bail has since been raised to $43,500 by Park County Circuit Judge Joey Darrah who indicated that the case had now changed significantly.  

“I do take into account that the defendant had previously turned himself in, but now we have a felony charge,” Darrah said. “It’s a whole different ball game.”

Wielhouwer remains at the Park County Detention Center, where he awaits a preliminary trial for the felony charge on Nov. 19.