Cold case investigation continues: Law enforcement continues investigation of 1985 arson, murder

After the current investigation is completed, the county will assess whether charges should be filed again, Albany County Attorney Peggy Trent said.

“The state and law enforcement are continuing to conduct additional testing and additional investigation,” she said.

“Once (the investigation is) completed, we will then assess the case for potential refiling.”

Previously, Trent asked the court to dismiss Lamb’s charges “without prejudice,” as additional DNA testing of evidence was necessary but could not be completed by the filing deadline, and was dismissed of his charges until further notice.

Evidence from tests such as DNA, blood stain, fingerprint analysis, a certified fire investigation and forensic footwear impression testing of the crime scene, were also requested by the state.

“Due to time constraints, the state elected to dismiss the charges without prejudice which allows the state to refile charges against Fred Lamb upon completion of all testing by experts and trial preparation,” she said.

According to Laramie Boomerang articles from the week of the incident, Laramie firefighters responded to a fire the morning of Oct. 20, 1985, where firefighters found Wiley’s remains at the site.

According to court documents, Lamb told Laramie Police Officers he was asleep in a nearby apartment when he was awoken by people pounding on the door stating there was a fire. He was later connected to the crime after a DNA analysis taken from blood splatter on the door in the building and the DNA profiles from the crime scene belonging to both Wiley and Lamb placed them at the scene.

Lamb was employed as an Albany County Sheriff’s Office deputy from Jan. 1, 1974-May 1, 1985, and served in the LPD before that. He did not work for either agency during the time of Wiley’s death.