Sheriff says it’s still unknown how Wyoming teen knew her killer
Written by Beth on October 16, 2019
RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Argus News Leader reports Detectives are still trying to find out how a Wyoming girl met the 17-year-old charged with killing her in his basement in South Dakota, the sheriff overseeing the investigation said Tuesday.
Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin said Shayna Ritthaler, 16, was shot once in the head by 17-year-old Michael Gavin Campbell, who is charged as an adult with second-degree murder.
Campbell isn’t cooperating with investigators, but they believe he drove to Ritthaler’s hometown of Moorcroft, Wyoming, to pick her up, Merwin said. Moorcroft is about 70 miles west of Sturgis, which is near the boy’s house.
Michael Gavin Campbell has been charged with 2nd-degree murder in connection to the death of a 16-year-old believed to be missing Wyoming girl Shayna Ritthaler
Michael Gavin Campbell has been charged with 2nd-degree murder in connection to the death of a 16-year-old believed to be missing Wyoming girl Shayna Ritthaler.
The victim’s and defendant’s cellphones are being examined for possible clues, the sheriff said.
Ritthaler’s body was found Oct. 7 in the basement of Campbell’s home, where he lived with his mother, authorities said.
Michele Bordewyk, the acting Meade County state’s attorney, said in court last week that the defendant shot the victim during an argument.
