Wolf Killer Cody Roberts Indicted on Felony Charges
The wheels of justice may be slow, but they are finally turning in the right direction in Wyoming. Cody Roberts, the man now infamous for torturing and killing a yearling wolf in Daniel, Wyoming last year, has been formally indicted on felony animal cruelty charges by a Wyoming grand jury.
The decision was announced this week in a brief press release from Sublette County law enforcement. While details were limited, officials confirmed that after reviewing the evidence and deliberating, the jury issued a “true bill,” leading to Roberts’ indictment. For an indictment to be reached, at least nine of the twelve jurors had to agree there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
This is a significant victory for animal welfare advocates, compassion, and common sense. Under Wyoming's criminal code, felony animal cruelty is when someone “knowingly, and with intent to cause death or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments or mutilates an animal.” Roberts’ shocking crime clearly fits this description: after severely injuring the young wolf with his snowmobile, he dragged her to the Green River Bar in Daniel, duct-taped her mouth shut, and tormented her before killing her in cold blood. The decision to indict offers a measure of vindication for the wolf, later named Hope, who endured unthinkable pain and fear in her final moments.
Next, Roberts will face an initial court appearance, where a judge will set bond and determine if he requires a public defender. An arraignment, where Roberts will enter a plea, will follow. If convicted, he could face up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The indictment also represents a sharp rebuke to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, which originally handed Roberts a paltry $250 fine, claiming wolves in areas of Wyoming where they are classified as predators are not protected under state cruelty laws. Sublette County Prosecuting Attorney Clayton Melinkovich has consistently rejected that interpretation, insisting that even predators cannot legally be tortured. Now, at least nine jurors have agreed with him.
This milestone would not have been possible without the ongoing push from compassionate individuals across the globe, including tens of thousands of Species Unite community members who refused to let Hope’s suffering be forgotten. Together, we have shown that cruelty will not be brushed aside. As the case moves to trial, we will continue to demand accountability, hoping for a guilty verdict and jail time for Roberts. Truly holding this heartless man accountable would send a powerful message to would-be animal abusers everywhere: we will not sit quietly and allow this violence to go unpunished.