AHJ_ah12661 Inventory of the Christopher A. Crofts records and research materials of the Edward L. Cantrell murder trial and investigation, 1969-2013 Crofts (Christopher A.) Records and Research Materials of the Edward L. Cantrell Murder Trial and Investigation Processed by Jamie J. Greene University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2017

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Jamie J. Greene February 2017 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Crofts, Christopher A. Christopher A. Crofts Records and Research Materials of the Edward L. Cantrell Murder Trial and Investigation 1969-2013 12661 2.38 cf. (3 boxes) + 3.39 GB University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English On July 15, 1978, Michael Rosa, an undercover police officer, was murdered in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Ed Cantrell, the Public Safety Director of Rock Springs was accused and charged with 1st degree murder but acquitted of the charge. The collection contains crime scene photographs, interviews and statements, court transcripts, reports, newspaper clippings, and a scrapbook regarding the Ed Cantrell murder trail in 1979. History of Christopher A. "Kip" Crofts and the Edward L. Cantrell murder trial

Christopher A. "Kip" Crofts was a Wyoming lawyer, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Director, and United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming. He was hired in March 1978 as the Deputy Director/Legal Advisor for the Wyoming DCI. On July 15, 1978, Michael Rosa, an undercover police officer, was murdered in Rock Springs, Wyoming by the accused, Ed Cantrell, a Wyoming law enforcement officer and Public Safety Director of Rock Springs. The murder happened amidst the backdrop of corruption accusations against Rock Springs and Wyoming Governor Ed Herschler by the Wyoming DCI Director, Neil Compton. This received national news attention when “60 minutes” aired two shows regarding the corruption charges. Governor Herschler fired Compton and the DCI Agents who appeared on the “60 Minutes” program and convened a Grand Jury in Laramie County to investigate. An investigator for the Grand Jury, Cecil Cundy, subpoenaed Michael Rosa to testify at the Grand Jury, but he never made it and allegations spread that he was murdered to prevent his testimony. Because the Wyoming DCI had not yet hired new agents, Crofts had to investigate the murder of Michael Rosa, which led to the State filing first degree murder charges against Ed Cantrell. Ed Cantrell was represented by Wyoming attorney, Gerry Spence, and acquitted of the 1st degree murder charge. In 1982, Gerry Spence wrote a book about the case titled “Gunning for Justice.”

 Scope and Content

Collection contains Crofts research, investigation, and court records related to the Ed Cantrell murder trial and investigation; including crime scene photographs, interviews and statements, court transcripts of the trial, reports, newspaper clippings, and a scrapbook.

WARNING: This collection contains graphic photographs.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

 Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Christopher A. "Kip" Crofts and the Edward L. Cantrell murder trial at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

This material was received from Christopher A. "Kip" Crofts in December 2016.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in February 2017.

 Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Cantrell, Ed, 1927-2004 Rosa, Michael, 1948-1978 Trials (Murder) -- Wyoming Crime -- Wyoming Political corruption -- Wyoming Rock Springs (Wyo.) Wyoming -- History -- 1946-1999 <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Politics, Government, and Law Civil Procedure and Courts Container List 1Book: "No Second Place Winner" by Bill Jordan2000 1Book: "With Justice for None" by Gerry Spence1989 1Book: "Gerry Spence: Gunning for Justice" by Gerry Spence and Anthony Polk1982 1Book: "New Challenges for Documentary" edited by Alan Rosenthal1988 2Cantrell Jury Instructions from the Clerk of District Court and correspondence1979-2014 1Correspondence (miscellaneous letters and newspaper clippings)1977-1985 1Correspondence: CBS News Archives DVDs, contract, contact information 2013 Digitalahcdm_12661_002CBS News Archives - "60 Minutes: Our Town" (DVD)1977 Digitalahcdm_12661_003CBS News Archives - "60 Minutes: Our Town" and "60 Minutes: High Noon In Cheyenne" (DVD)1977 2Correspondence: For CID - Wyoming State Grand Jury + Gillette Police Department1978 1Court Transcripts - The State of Wyoming vs. Edward L. Cantrell Jury Trial, volumes 1-81979 1 and Digitalahcdm_12661_001Crime scene color photographs (Mike Rosa), affidavit, copies of the crime scene photographs1978 2DR78-0703: Reports of Investigation, Attachments 1-41, and photos1978 Interviews, Statements, Reports, and Notes: 2Interview: Mayor Wataha and Bob Johnson (cassette tape)July 16, 1978 2Ed Cantrell - correspondence to the Wyoming State Grand Jury, memorandum of interview1978 2V.F. O'Loughlin, Wyo Highway Patrol (notes)undated 2Charles Sandvision (notes)1976 2Mike Wilkinson, Ambulance Attendant (memorandum of interview, interview notes)1978 2Polygraph Reports1978 2Anonymous letters1977-1979 2Dennis Allen WHP (Wyoming Highway Patrol) (Form P-56 reports, notes, statement)1978 2Dr. William Wilson (interview notes)1978 2Phil Watts (interview transcript)1978 2Lester, Johns, RSPD detective (copy of a notebook)1978 2FBI (description of car, notes)1978 2Reginald Walters, Assistant - Vase Funeral (notes)undated 2Phillip Watts (interview questions)1978 2Gun Trace Cantrell - Report1978 2Rosa, Rebecca, interview (telephone conversation transcript, interview transcript)1978 2Phillip Watts, RSPD Patrolman (telephone conversation transcript)1978 2Phil Watts (Watt's telephone calls)undated 2Kathy Undem, RSPD Dispatcher (interview transcripts, notes)1978 2Orman, Tripp (interview transcript, notes)1978 2Jeannie Trueblood, Silver Dollar Bartender/waitress (statement)1978 2Janice Tripp (notes)1977 2Doug Telc, Sweetwater County Deputy Sheriff (notes, memorandum of interview)undated 2Paul Prevedel, 10-50 Witness (notes, interview)undated 2Kent Luck (notes)1979 2Jerry Kirtly, Pizza Hut (note)1978 2Silver Dollar (notes, memorandum)1978 2Ken Weimer, RSPD patrolman, 10-50 Investigator (memorandum of interview, interview notes)1977 2Watts, Phil: Telephone Calls (telephone logs, notes)1978 2Buy Fund Reports, City Clerk (report and notes)1977-1978 2Buy Fund, Analysis/summary (reports, logs)undated 2Kim Vase Jelaca (interview notes, memorandum of interview, interview transcripts)1978 2Paul Wataha, Mayor Rock Springs (Notes)1978 2Frank Cook (interview, notes)1978 2Lynn Nelson (Notes)undated 2Dave Jelaca, Volkswagen driver (interview notes, memorandum of interview)1978 2RSPD activity log1978 2Peggy Cantrell (interview notes)1978 2Receipt for records (callas briefcase)1978 2Sheri Canfield (interview, interview notes)1978 2Heie, Larry (receipts, evidence tags, report/log, criminal complaint)1978 2Agriculture lab reports1977-1978 2Rosa reports1978 2Magazine articles - "Empire Magazine", "Life Magazine"1983-1984 Digitalahcdm_12661_001Manuscript: "Cantrell Case - The Evidence Re-examined" by Christopher A. "Kip" Crofts"undated 2Museum - correspondence to Judge Yonkee1978 2Newspaper clippings and articles1969-2008 3Scrapbook (newspaper clippings and a "People" magazine article)1978-1979