Pathologist says abuse killed child

THERMOPOLIS - A forensic pathologist testified in a felony murder trial that 22-month-old Marcella Hope Yellowbear died of repetitive abuse, which he described as the worst he has ever seen.

After jurors had left the courtroom Wednesday, Andrew Yellowbear Jr., who is accused of killing his daughter, yelled to a member of the audience, "What was that? Did you say something?"

Yellowbear was removed from the courtroom, and security personnel relayed that Yellowbear had accused the audience member of mouthing something inappropriate.

During Wednesday's testimony, Dr. Stephen Cina, a Colorado forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy on Marcella, said the little girl's death took place over a period of weeks. He said Marcella's case was the "worst repetitive abuse case I've seen."

He showed disturbing photos of the girl's body and described injuries to her that included a dying arm from lack of blood flow, a spiral fracture to her upper arm commonly caused by twisting, third-degree burns that appeared to be from immersion in a hot liquid and a skull fracture.

Defense attorney Vaughn Neubauer pointed out that nothing in Cina's testimony indicated who had abused the child.

Trooper finds explosive device

THERMOPOLIS - A trooper found an explosive device in a pickup truck after pulling a man over on suspicion of driving under the influence, the Wyoming Highway Patrol said.

The trooper also allegedly found 6 grams of methamphetamine in the truck Wednesday.

Harold D. Willenbrecht, 45, of Thermopolis was charged with driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance. Federal explosives charges were also likely to be filed, said patrol Sgt. Stephen Townsend.

Willenbrecht was stopped around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday about 11 miles south of Thermopolis. After the trooper found the device, a bomb squad was called in from Casper to take it to another location and disable it.

Operator says it's cooperating

GILLETTE - A coal-bed methane gas company facing corrective action from the state engineer's office said it is cooperating with state authorities.

A spokesman for Pinnacle Gas Resources Inc. said errors were made in the permit application process for several reservoirs on Wild Horse Creek in western Campbell County.

State Engineer Patrick Tyrrell told the Star-Tribune this week his agency had rejected Pinnacle's pending applications for 83 wells and issued an "order to cease production" for 14 coal-bed methane wells as well as "cease use" orders for at least four storage reservoirs.

"Pinnacle Gas Resources … is working diligently to resolve the problem," said company spokesman Steve Gregersen. "We have shut down the wells that discharged into those reservoirs. The state engineer's office is reviewing our corrected applications and we anticipate a timely resolution."

Pinnacle operates more than 500 coal-bed methane wells in the Powder River Basin.