Pathologist has autopsy report

CHEYENNE - As Albany County officials investigate the possibility that the Matthew Shepard autopsy report may be missing, the pathologist who conducted the 1998 autopsy says he still has a copy of the original record.

Albany County Coroner Tom Furgeson has claimed records were missing from the office when he took over in 2007, including the Shepard autopsy report. Julie Heggie, who served as coroner from 1990 to 2006, has denied that any records were missing.

Albany County Sheriff James Pond said this week that he's working with Furgeson on a "fact-finding inquiry" to determine whether any records are missing. The inquiry includes a review of the types of records that should be maintained in the office, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Patrick Allen, the forensic pathologist who conducted the Shepard autopsy in 1998, said he has kept keeps records of all of his work, including the Shepard autopsy.

Shepard was a gay UW student whose beating death in Laramie garnered national attention. The two men convicted in the case are serving life in prison for the murder.

Allen, the coroner and medical examiner for Larimer County, Colo., said he regularly performs autopsies for Wyoming agencies on a contract basis, because Wyoming doesn't have any certified forensic pathologists.

"When we perform autopsies for other jurisdictions, I would keep copies of the autopsies that I do," Allen said. "And I did Matthew Shepard. And I have the records on that."

Police report meth lab bust

LARAMIE - Authorities said a failed drug test by a Laramie man on probation led to the discovery of a large methamphetamine laboratory in the city.

Laramie police say they arrested 47-year-old Christopher Watkins on Wednesday after workers with the Office of Probation and Parole found a methamphetamine lab in the garage of his home.

Commander Mitch Cushman of the Laramie Police Department said the meth lab was one of the largest he's seen. Cushman said Probation and Parole and the state Division of Criminal Investigation searched Watkins' home after he failed a drug test.

Watkins was on probation from his conviction last year in Albany County District Court on forging prescriptions to obtain a painkiller drug.

Panel approves natural gas plant

RAWLINS - The state Industrial Siting Council has approved a permit for a $233 million expansion of the Echo Springs natural gas plant in Carbon County.

The council's decision came after a hearing in Rawlins on Wednesday.

The expansion will double the capacity of the plant, which is located south of Interstate 80 between Rawlins and Wamsutter. The plant is owned by Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams Cos. It processes natural gas and produces natural gas liquids, such as propane and butane.

Williams Project Manager Casey Jensen said the existing plant is at capacity now.

He said it will take about two years to complete the expansion and all the work will take place on the plant's existing site.