CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Court documents released by the Laramie County Circuit Court have shed light on an alleged Attempted Murder that is under investigation by the Cheyenne Police Department.
On January 18th, 2021, officials with the Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) announced that they arrested Charles Mathisen, 36, of Cheyenne on recommended charges of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Domestic Battery, Strangulation of a Household Member, and Aggravated Burglary.
According to a sworn affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, on January 16th, 2021, CPD officers were dispatched to a residence within the city limits to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.
Police made contact with an individual who alleged that Mathisen had pushed his way into their residence without permission before attempting to murder them during the early evening hours on January 13th, 2021.
The accuser told police that Mathisen had shown up at their residence to retrieve property that was his. The accuser stated that when they open the door to give the suspect his property back he spit on them and then shoved them aside so he could gain entry to their residence without permission.
Court paperwork alleges that once inside of the residence, the suspect attempted to strangle the homeowner.
The accuser went on to say once they were able to prevent Mathisen from getting his hands around their neck that he proceeded to strike them in their face.
The affidavit reports that Mathisen then grabbed a Sig Sauer Mosquito pistol (.22 cal) and pinned the accuser up against a wall inside of the residence.
The accuser stated Mathisen placed the pistol inside of their mouth, which was already loaded, and pulled the trigger. The accuser told police that the pistol misfired, so Mathisen placed the pistol against their head and fired again.
“When the pistol misfired both times, I was advised by the accuser that Mathisen placed the pistol to his head and fired three times. After the pistol misfired five times, Mathisen dropped the pistol,” an officer stated in the affidavit.
According to court papers, Mathisen showed up at the accuser’s residence again on January 16th, 2021 and pushed them up against the side of their vehicle.
The accuser told police that Mathisen chased them in their vehicle when they attempted to drive away from him. They went on to tell authorities that Mathisen cut them off in his vehicle while they were driving near Pershing Blvd.
Investigators say they observed “significant” bruising and swelling to both eyes of the accuser. Law enforcement states they also located multiple other bruises and marks that they say were “consistent” with what the accuser alleged happened.
The affidavit says an acquaintance of the accuser supplied investigators with texts and voicemails from Mathisen.
“In the text messages, Mathisen stated ‘his heart was broken for what he did’,” authorities stated in the affidavit.
In the voicemails, investigators say they heard Mathisen make comments about being sorry for hurting the accuser.
Mathisen made his initial appearance in Laramie County Circuit Court on January 19th, 2021, to hear the recommended charges of Attempted Murder in the 1st Degree read to him, a count of Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree, Domestic Assault, Strangulation of a Household Member, Unlawful Entry Into an Occupied Structure, Domestic Battery, Reckless Driving and Unlawful Touch read to him.
If convicted on the charges of Attempted Murder, Mathisen could face up to life in prison, according to Wyoming statutes.
