Nicholas Blackburn dies in fatal Riverton assault incident
Nicholas Blackburn dies in fatal Riverton assault incident
Fatal Riverton assault incident death of Nicholas Blackburn – Obituary
In a recent court proceeding, 30-year-old Nicholas Blackburn pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of his friend. This arraignment took place in Lander, where Blackburn faced the emotional presence of the victim’s parents, who were visibly distraught while holding a framed photo of their son, Pete Ouray.
During the hearing in Fremont County District Court, Blackburn, dressed in an ill-fitting orange jumpsuit and shackles, sat beside his defense attorney, Valerie Schoneberger. He addressed Judge Jason Conder, stating, “I plead not guilty, your honor.” The court scheduled Blackburn’s trial for March 17.
Schoneberger requested a reduction of Blackburn’s bond from $50,000 cash-only to $10,000 cash or surety. However, Fremont County Attorney Patrick LeBrun opposed the reduction, citing the violent nature of the allegations against Blackburn and his history of battery and domestic battery convictions. Judge Conder decided to maintain the higher bond amount.
In the courtroom, Alvina Ouray and her husband, Rudy Apodaca, the parents of 29-year-old Pete Ouray, sat in tears, clutching their son’s photograph. After the hearing, they expressed their desire for support from others who may have been victimized by Blackburn, who has a history of violence, including past charges for battery and domestic battery.
The incident reportedly occurred on March 14 when Blackburn visited the Ouray home. Family members who gave him a ride confirmed he was there that evening. Alvina Ouray mentioned she fell asleep while listening to the two men talk but awoke around midnight to their argument.
As she prepared for work the next morning, she saw Blackburn on the couch and heard him claim he was going to check on Pete. After Alvina left, Rudy Apodaca recalled hearing more arguing and then saw Blackburn leave the home looking agitated. Blackburn later left with his mother, who picked him up.
When Alvina returned home from work on March 15, she found Pete face-down on the bedroom floor, which she initially thought was normal. However, a few days later, she realized something was wrong and called 911 after finding him in the same position.
Deputies found Pete Ouray deceased, showing signs that he had been dead for days. An autopsy revealed that he died from blunt-force trauma that caused a brain bleed, marking the incident as a homicide. The forensic pathologist noted that the trauma could have resulted from a punch.
The investigation revealed that only Alvina, Rudy, and Pete were in the home after Blackburn left, raising suspicions about the timeline of events. Blackburn was charged with manslaughter, a crime that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, on October 4. His case was later elevated to the felony-level Fremont County District Court.
Nicholas Blackburn dies in fatal Riverton assault incident Fatal Riverton assault incident death of Nicholas Blackburn – Obituary In a recent court proceeding, 30-year-old Nicholas Blackburn pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of his friend. This arraignment took place in Lander, where Blackburn faced the emotional presence of the victim’s parents,…
Nicholas Blackburn dies in fatal Riverton assault incident Fatal Riverton assault incident death of Nicholas Blackburn – Obituary In a recent court proceeding, 30-year-old Nicholas Blackburn pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of his friend. This arraignment took place in Lander, where Blackburn faced the emotional presence of the victim’s parents,…