Angelina Rose Bell, a 24-year-old Native American woman, was found deceased on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in a room at the Ol' Wyoming Motel in Riverton, Wyoming. The discovery was made by her own young daughter, who subsequently alerted others. Responding officers from the Riverton Police Department immediately suspected foul play upon finding Bell's body and a 9 mm shell casing in the room.
An investigation determined she had sustained a gunshot wound to the face.
The child reportedly told investigators that her "Daddy was mad at Mommy." The ensuing homicide investigation quickly identified 25-year-old Sterling Louis Black as the suspect. Later that same day, Black turned himself in to the authorities. His father reportedly found him in an abandoned trailer and encouraged him to surrender. The father also turned over a 9 mm handgun to the police, which matched the casing found at the scene of the crime.
Sterling Louis Black was taken into custody and has been charged with one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Angelina Rose Bell. According to her obituary, Angelina was born on August 11, 2001, in Riverton and had spent her life in the Riverton and Arapahoe area. She was a graduate of Arapaho Charter High School and was a mother to her daughter, Alianna Alice. She was remembered as having a great sense of humor and always smiling. The case is currently moving through the legal system.
