Wendy Coe

A Cody woman who is alleged to have tried hiring someone to kill her daughter’s boyfriend formally denied the allegations on Monday.

Appearing by video in Park County District Court, Wendy D. Coe pleaded not guilty to a felony count of solicitation to commit first-degree murder.

According to charging documents, Coe told an undercover agent in December that she wanted her daughter’s partner “gone,” asserting that the man was using drugs and mistreating her daughter. Coe, 54, allegedly suggested that the man’s death could be made to look like a drug overdose. When the agent recommended shooting the man, Coe reportedly replied “works for me.”

Charging documents say Coe never actually struck a deal with the supposed hitman. Although she allegedly was recorded saying that $10,000 seemed like a “fair” price, Coe said she didn’t have the money and never paid the agent. Two days of conversation, on Dec. 20 and 21, reportedly ended with Coe telling the agent that she couldn’t afford “what we discussed” and the agent saying she could get in touch if something changed.

According to the affidavit of probable cause submitted in the case, Cody police arranged for the agent to meet with Coe after receiving a report that she’d approached multiple people about killing the boyfriend over a period of weeks.

At Monday’s arraignment, Coe’s court-appointed defense attorney, Sam Krone, said that “these are merely allegations at this time.”

He added that, “in going through the affidavit of probable cause, Ms. Coe has several defenses to the charge against her.”

Krone made the statement while asking that Coe be released on a signature bond to house arrest. She’s been held in jail since her Dec. 21 arrest, with bail currently set at $50,000 cash or surety.

Krone noted that Coe has “strong” ties to the community, having lived in the Cody area for over 20 years. The attorney also reiterated his argument that Coe needs medical testing and treatment.

“She’s been having a very difficult time at the detention center,” Krone said.

However, Deputy Park County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Eichele urged District Court Judge Bill Simpson to leave the current bond in place, citing the seriousness of the case. Eichele said more information was needed to substantiate the concerns about Coe’s health, adding that the jail has medical staff and is obligated to take care of inmates’ physical wellbeing.

Additionally, the prosecutor said Coe has prior felony convictions for fraud and forgery and active warrants for her arrest in Oregon, though he was unable to provide any details about the warrants.

Simpson ultimately decided to leave the $50,000 bond in place and asked Coe to work with Krone to provide more information about her criminal history. The judge said the specifics of the alleged warrants are relevant to setting bond.

“A lot of it is speculation, conjecture, who said what, who didn’t say what,” Simpson said, and “it’s important that the court knows.”

A trial will be scheduled for a date within the next six months. A conviction for the charge would carry a life sentence.

Meanwhile, the boyfriend who was allegedly being targeted by Coe also remains in jail. Cody police arrested the 29-year-old a day after Coe, alleging that he shoplifted $213 worth of items from the Cody Walmart, drove while impaired and possessed small amounts of meth and marijuana. His bail is set at $10,000 cash or surety.