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Riverton Today
By the People, for the People
Man Charged With Killing Girlfriend in Front of Daughter Bound Over for Trial
Sterling Louis Black Jr. faces second-degree murder charge after allegedly shooting Angelina Rose Bell in Riverton motel room
Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:51pm
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A 25-year-old Riverton man accused of shooting his girlfriend in the face and leaving her dead with their young daughter in a hotel room has been bound over to Fremont County District Court to face a second-degree murder charge. Sterling Louis Black Jr. was arrested after turning himself in to police about nine hours after his girlfriend, 24-year-old Angelina Rose Bell, was found dead in a motel room they were sharing with their daughter.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing issues of domestic violence and the tragic consequences that can occur when abusive relationships escalate. It also raises questions about access to firearms and how to better protect vulnerable family members, especially children, who are present during acts of violence.
The details
According to the affidavit, police were called to the Ol' Wyoming Motel on Federal Boulevard around 7 a.m. on March 7 after someone reported that a young girl had found her mother unconscious with 'lots of blood.' Officers found Bell dead on the bathroom floor with a single gunshot wound to the face. A 9mm casing was found in the toilet. Investigators determined the shot was fired from several inches to 2 feet away based on the stippling pattern on Bell's face. Black turned himself in to police later that afternoon, and his father told officers he had found his son in an abandoned trailer and urged him to 'do what is right.' The father then turned over the 9mm handgun that matched the one used in the shooting.
- On March 7, police responded to the motel around 7 a.m. after receiving a call about a young girl finding her unconscious mother.
- Around 4 p.m. on March 7, Black turned himself in at the Fremont County Sheriff's Office.
- Black's father found him in an abandoned trailer and convinced him to turn himself in.
The players
Sterling Louis Black Jr.
A 25-year-old Riverton man accused of shooting his girlfriend, Angelina Rose Bell, in their motel room.
Angelina Rose Bell
A 24-year-old woman who was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the face in a Riverton motel room she was sharing with Black and their young daughter.
Fremont County Coroner Erin Ivie
The coroner who examined Bell's body and noted the apparent gunshot wound and stippling patterns.
Detective Peter McCall
The Riverton Police Department detective who authored the affidavit of probable cause in the case.
Black's father
The father of Sterling Louis Black Jr. who found his son in an abandoned trailer and convinced him to turn himself in to police.
What they’re saying
“'Mommy's dead,' 'Mommy has blood on her' and 'Daddy was mad at Mommy'”
— Young daughter
“'Momma's in my bathroom'”
— Young daughter
What’s next
Black remains in custody on a $750,000 cash-only bond, and a date for his arraignment in Fremont County District Court has not yet been set.
The takeaway
This tragic case underscores the urgent need for greater resources and support to address domestic violence, protect vulnerable family members, and prevent such senseless acts of violence from occurring in the first place.
