A Wyoming judge sentenced 16-year-old Jarreth Plunkett to life in prison for fatally stabbing 14-year-old Bobby Maher outside a mall in April 2024. Plunkett, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault, was also given an additional 10-year sentence for the assault charge.
Under state law, Plunkett will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years.
Judge’s Harsh Words for Plunkett
During the sentencing, Natrona County District Judge Catherine E. Wilking strongly criticized Plunkett’s actions, calling the stabbing the “most cowardly thing I can imagine.”
She emphasized that the confrontation could have been resolved differently, saying, “They could have duked it out at the mall. That’s how we used to do it back in my day.”
Brutal Attack Described as ‘Pack of Wolves’
Prosecutors referred to Plunkett and his co-defendant, Dominique Antonio Richard Harris, as “wild animals” for their brutal attack on Maher. District Attorney Dan Itzen compared the assault to a “pack of wolves hunting down their prey.”
The Crime and Prior Confrontations
Plunkett and Harris had a history of encounters with Maher. Two weeks prior to the fatal stabbing, the two defendants had a confrontation with Maher at a local park. Just days before the murder, Plunkett reportedly threatened Maher’s friend, asking if he “wanted to pay Bobby’s blood debt.”
The murder took place at the Eastridge Mall, where Plunkett and Harris had been playing hide-and-seek in a Best Buy store. After stealing knives from a store, they began following Maher’s girlfriend.
When Maher appeared outside a DICK’s Sporting Goods, a violent altercation ensued. Surveillance footage and a cellphone video captured the attack, showing Harris holding Maher while Plunkett stabbed him.
Harris’ Role in the Attack
Harris, who physically restrained Maher, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. His sentencing is pending. Harris admitted to holding Maher down but claimed he was doing so to end the fight.
