Man Charged With 2015 Cheyenne Coin Shop Murders Bound Over

The man accused of gunning down two men at The Coin Shop in downtown Cheyenne nine years ago next Saturday has been bound over to Laramie County District Court.

Circuit Court Judge Sean Chambers on Friday morning found probable to bind 68-year-old McCloud, California resident Douglas Mark Smith over on two counts of first-degree murder.

Get our free mobile app

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 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.

"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 he was subsequently arrested for the crimes on June 25, 2024.

RELATED: Family of Murdered Cheyenne Coin Shop Owner Releases Statement

"We discovered what time we believe he arrived at The Coin Shop (and) that he was there multiple minutes prior to when he called 911 at 09:30:51," said Pendleton.

"No one else is seen leaving that scene in the minutes following those events from any direction," said Deputy District Attorney Bill Edelman. "The only person who's capable of carrying out those acts was Doug Smith."

Smith's attorney, Rob Oldham, argued that there was no physical evidence tying his client to the murders and asked that Chambers not bind the case over, but Chambers found probable cause that Smith committed the offenses.

Oldham also argued for a $50,000 cash or surety bond, saying Smith, a Canadian citizen who went to Canada for two years and then returned, was willing to surrender his passport and wear an ankle monitor.

"He was cooperative ... I don't think there's any risk of flight," said Oldham. "The fact that he went to Canada and came back is a strong indication that he wasn't running from anything."

But Edelman fired back, saying, "Mr. Oldham is quick to admit that his client is not a resident of the United States, I think that heightens the flight risk substantially. I think a no bond order is appropriate and should continue."

Chambers, who during Smith's initial appearance on July 5, 2024, ordered he be held without bond, said, "I'm going to leave bond as is with no bond set."

RELATED: No Bond Set for Man Accused in 2015 Cheyenne Coin Shop Murders

Smith's next court appearance will be an arraignment in District Court, which has yet to be scheduled.