CHEYENNE, Wyo. — After nearly a decade of investigation, the case against Douglas Smith in the 2015 double homicide at The Coin Shop has moved a step forward. On July 12 Judge Sean C. Chambers found probable cause to bind Smith’s case to district court following his preliminary hearing.
Detective James Pendleton was the only person called to the stand at the preliminary hearing. His testimony emphasized the scans of the crime scene, the inability of Smith to see the individuals or their wounds from his position in the doorway of the shop, the items recovered at the scene, the different cameras used to build the timeline of events, and his interviews with Smith.
The defense, represented by Rob Oldwin of the Law Office Of Christina L. Williams in Gillette, argued that there was no difference between the probable cause in 2015 and today and that Smith had left the country since 2015 and returned stating that meant he was unlikely to flee. He also emphasized Smith’s cooperation with the investigation.
Prosecutor Bill Edelman countered that given the timeline and lack of others in the area or seen leaving the scene, Smith is the only one who could have committed the crime.
Chambers chose to bind the case to district court without setting a bond, stating that the district court would be better able to handle the mitigation of flight risk at the arraignment given his Canadian citizenship. No date was set for the arraignment yet.
Arrest and Investigation Background
The Cheyenne Police Department arrested Smith, 68, with assistance from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office in California. Smith, a resident of McCloud, California, faces two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of George “Doc” Manley, 76, and Dwight Brockman, 67. The murders occurred on July 20, 2015, at The Coin Shop on 510 W. Lincolnway.
Officers discovered Manley and Brockman deceased from gunshot wounds. Despite extensive investigative efforts, the case remained unsolved until Cheyenne police revisited the evidence with new technologies in 2023.
Reopening the Case
“Three years ago, when I was hired as chief of police, I became aware of the homicide at The Coin Shop and decided to make this a priority,” Chief Mark Francisco said.
Detectives invested over 1,500 hours and collaborated with agencies like the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service. The renewed investigation cost approximately $11,106.
Details from the Affidavit of Probable Cause
Detective Pendleton of the Cheyenne Police Department has filed an affidavit of probable cause detailing events related to a robbery and double homicide at The Coin Shop in Cheyenne on July 20, 2015.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., Cheyenne Police Patrol Officers responded to a reported robbery at 510 West Lincolnway, The Coin Shop. Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies of Brockman and Manley both of whom had sustained single gunshot wounds to the head.
The initial 911 call was made by Smith, who reported seeing a suspect inside the store “pilfering” the safe. Smith stated that the suspect pointed a .45 caliber firearm at him and told him to leave the store. Smith ran out and then called 911, remaining on the west side of The Coin Shop to try and photograph the suspect if he left the scene.
During his interview with Detective John Pederson on July 20, 2015, Smith stated he called The Coin Shop at 9:22 a.m. to ensure it was open and then drove to the location, parking his gold-colored 1993 Lexus LS 400 along the west side of the shop. Smith claimed to have entered the store with reading material for Ralph Barnes, stayed inside for two to three minutes and observed the aftermath of the shootings before exiting.
However, Smith’s account included several inconsistencies. He initially claimed to have only observed the suspect for a few seconds, describing the victims as already shot when he entered. In subsequent interviews, Smith changed his statements regarding the timeline of events, the duration of his presence inside the shop, and his observations of the crime scene.
Surveillance footage and witness statements contradicted Smith’s timeline. Two eyewitnesses who were near The Coin Shop at the time did not see anyone leaving the scene. Cheyenne Transit Bus surveillance video showed no individuals fleeing the area. The first responding officers, arriving at approximately 9:33 a.m., also did not observe anyone running from the store.
Further investigation revealed that Smith positively identified multiple suspects in photo lineups but later recanted his identifications. Smith sent an email to Detective Pederson suggesting that the suspect had covered up a large tattoo on his neck with makeup, a detail he had not previously mentioned.
During a May 9, 2023, interview, Smith mentioned possessing the shirt he wore on the day of the murders. The shirt, described as an orange “Hawaiian style” shirt, had two distinct red spots suspected to be blood. Smith refers to the shirt as his “Dwight” shirt. DNA testing on the shirt revealed two DNA profiles, one matching Smith. The second profile was insufficient to fully process, but the red spots were no longer present when the shirt was collected in 2023.
The investigation developed a timeline showing that Smith was observed at the intersection of West 17th Street and Pioneer Avenue at 9:26 a.m. on July 20, 2015. The approximate drive time from that location to The Coin Shop is 45-51 seconds, placing Smith at the shop at approximately 9:27 a.m. Smith did not call 911 until 9:30.51 a.m., indicating he was at the scene for over three minutes before making the call. Smith’s statements about his actions during this time were inconsistent.
Smith stated he went to The Coin Shop to drop off reading material for Ralph Barnes, a frequent customer. However, Barnes denied ever exchanging reading material with Smith. Another regular customer, William Dolon, also did not recall Smith dropping off reading material for Barnes.
Throughout the investigation, Smith provided detailed descriptions of the sequence of events inside The Coin Shop, including how the suspect conducted the robbery and shootings. Smith’s account closely matched the sequence of events determined by CPD detectives based on physical evidence.
Prosecution and Next Steps
Laramie County District Attorney Sylvia Hackl expressed gratitude for the investigators’ work. “I appreciate the diligent work of our investigators who have brought this suspect to justice,” Hackl said. Edelman of the District Attorney’s office will be the chief prosecutor on the case.
The case now proceeds to district court, marking a step toward justice for the victims and closure for the community. Authorities continue to urge anyone with further information to contact the Cheyenne Police Department or Silent Witness.
