Trial Starts Monday for Man Accused of Cheyenne Coin Shop Murders
Jury selection begins Monday in the long-awaited trial of a California man accused of gunning down two men at The Coin Shop in downtown Cheyenne 10 years ago.
Douglas Mark Smith, 69, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, a crime punishable by death, life in prison without parole, or life in prison.
Case Background
The horrific murders happened around 9:30 a.m. on July 20, 2015, just blocks from the Depot Plaza where a Cheyenne Frontier Days pancake breakfast was winding down.
Large crowds were circulating through the area when police say they received a 911 call from Smith stating an armed robbery was taking place.
Officers arrived to find the shop owner, 67-year-old Dwight M. Brockman, and his friend, 76-year-old George "Doc" Manley, dead from single gunshot wounds to the head.
Detective James Pendleton, who was handed the case in late 2022, testified during Smith's preliminary hearing that Smith told Detective John Pederson, who has since retired from the force, that he was coming into work late that day and needed to go to The Coin Shop because he had reading material to drop off to a regular customer.
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"Upon entering The Coin Shop, he stated he initially observed who he believed to be George Manley, or Doc, lying on the ground, then he looked up and he saw a Hispanic male pilfering the safe," said Pendleton.
"He stated the male pilfering the safe turned towards him and ... pointed the gun at him and said, 'Get out or I'll shoot,'" added Pendleton.
Smith said he dropped the reading material and ducked behind a bookshelf in front of the doorway, then bent over and picked up the reading material, ran out the door, got into his car, and called 911.
Pendleton said police at the time never thought to check Smith or his car for a gun, and a gunshot residue test was never done.
"Initially at the time of the original investigation, the security camera footage was obtained to try to see or determine if someone matching Mr. Smith's description was fleeing the scene," said Pendleton.
"Once it was determined that no one was seen fleeing the scene that matched Mr. Smith's description, I don't believe they followed up with the fact that he could be a suspect, he was never looked at as a suspect," Pendleton added.
Through his involvement in the investigation, Pendleton was able to establish a timeline showing that Smith was the only one at The Coin Shop when the murders occurred, and Smith was subsequently arrested for the murders on June 25, 2024.
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Smith's trial is expected to last at least a week.