Tragic Incident: Child Discovers Mother’s Body After Father Leaves Home, Police Report

A tragic incident unfolded in Wyoming, where a 25-year-old man faces accusations of murdering his child’s mother. Their young daughter reportedly discovered the scene and informed the police, saying, “Daddy was mad” and “Mommy’s dead.”

Sterling Louis Black was apprehended on Saturday and is now facing a charge of second-degree murder following the death of 24-year-old Angelina Rose Bell, according to official records.

The Riverton Police Department detailed in a news release that officers responded to a call on the morning of March 7, reporting a deceased woman at the Ol’ Wyoming Motel, located in the 400 block of North Federal Boulevard in Riverton.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered Bell’s body in one of the motel rooms. The area was secured as detectives launched an investigation into the suspected homicide.

Authorities immediately suspected “foul play” in Bell’s death, as a 9 mm shell casing was found near her body. Police quickly identified Black as the primary suspect. He later surrendered to law enforcement that same afternoon, according to the police.

Police released very few details, citing an ongoing investigation.

However, additional details about what investigators believe happened inside the motel room emerged in court documents obtained by Cowboy State Daily.

According to a probable cause affidavit cited by the outlet, the victim’s young daughter was the one who discovered her mother’s body. A 911 caller said the “little girl found her mother and was not sure if she was conscious, but could see lots of blood.”

Investigators responding to the scene determined the woman had suffered an apparent gunshot wound to the face, according to the court documents.

But the most disturbing details came from the couple’s young daughter, who spoke with responding officers.

“Momma’s in my bathroom,” the child reportedly told police.

Authorities later brought the girl to the police station, where she spoke with a victim-witness coordinator. During those conversations, the girl reportedly made several chilling statements about what had happened inside the motel room.

Among them, investigators wrote, were:

• “Daddy went for a walk.”
• “Mommy has blood on her.”
• “Daddy was mad at Mommy.”
• “Mommy’s dead.”

Inside the bathroom, detectives reportedly recovered a spent 9 mm shell casing from the toilet bowl. They also found a plastic handgun case for a SAR 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, though the firearm itself was not initially located. The case contained two empty magazines, investigators said.

Bell’s body was examined at the scene by the Fremont County coroner.

Bell appeared to have a bullet entry wound near the bridge of her nose next to her right eye, the affidavit reportedly said. Investigators also observed stippling — a pattern caused by gunpowder particles striking the skin — across her face, including her nose, forehead, eyes, and right cheek.

The presence of stippling and the absence of gas burns suggested the weapon was fired from “several inches to 2 feet” away, according to the affidavit.

Investigators later recovered a fired bullet on the bathroom floor in front of the vanity, and authorities noted there was no exit wound.

“Also located in the bathroom were signs of drug and alcohol use,” the detective wrote.

No nearby motel guests reported hearing a gunshot or argument, investigators said.

Several hours after Bell’s body was discovered, Black notified authorities he planned to turn himself in.

According to Cowboy State Daily, Black’s father told police he found his son in an abandoned trailer on his property and urged him to “do what is right.” The father also turned over a SAR 9 mm handgun whose serial number matched the case found in the motel room, police said.

Second-degree murder in Wyoming carries a possible sentence of 20 years to life in prison.