If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of harming themselves, please call 911. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text “WYO” to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line.
GILLETTE, Wyo. — At 4:15 p.m. today, Campbell County Coroner Paul Wallem released the autopsy results for two men who were found dead Friday morning outside a structure fire along Midland Road outside Gillette.
Campbell County sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and EMS personnel responded at 11:06 a.m. May 19 to 1500 Midland Road, which is north of Gillette in Campbell County, regarding a report that a fifth-wheel camper was on fire, Sheriff Scott Matheny said. At the time of the report, it wasn’t known whether there were any occupants inside the camper. Upon arrival, deputies identified one person on the ground outside the trailer and, eventually, a second individual inside. After the scene was secured and made safe, the preliminary investigation identified the two men who had died. The initial investigation indicated that a crime had been committed, and the scene was secured. Search warrants were obtained, and the Wyoming State Crime Lab was called to assist in the investigation.
The first of the two individuals is Patrick M. Mahoney, the suspect, who was born in June 1966 and who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Wallem said. The other — Steven E. Hague — was born in June 1963 and suffered a gunshot wound that entered his upper left shoulder and traveled downward, damaging his aorta. The death was sudden and on the scene. Mahoney was Hague’s employee and was living on Hague’s property. Both individuals were living in Campbell County. There is no evidence the victim was armed.
Matheny said the weapon involved was a .308 scoped rifle. Law enforcement hasn’t determined the weapon’s owner. The individuals knew each other and had a landlord–tenant and employer–employee relationship.
“While the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office believes a crime has been committed, there’s no cause for community concern and no other members of the community were ever at risk,” Matheny said.
The case is open pending further investigation and results from the Wyoming State Crime Lab and the pathologist, Matheny said. Sgt. Dan Maul, who’s in charge of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation division, was the lead investigator on the case.
The autopsies were conducted in Rapid City, Wallem said.
