Stephen Francis Skaj, 58, was well known in Casper as a lifelong resident, a dedicated mechanic and a staple at local motorsports and car shows. He was born May 14, 1965, grew up in a family of nine, and worked for employers including the City of Casper, BNSF Railroad and CMI-TECO. Neighbors remembered him as hardworking, helpful and quick with a joke.

On the afternoon of Friday, August 25, 2023, Skaj became involved in a physical fight with 33-year-old Casper resident Ryan Andrew Rosty in the 4700 block of Boles Road, just outside Casper. According to an eyewitness account and investigators, after the fight Skaj began to walk away when Rosty produced a firearm, shot Skaj, and then shot himself. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene; the coroner described the incident as a homicide–suicide.

Family and friends later held a memorial Mass in Casper celebrating Skaj’s life and his love of engines rather than the violent end on that stretch of road. If anyone knew Steve, his routines, or saw something on Boles Road that afternoon, please come forward with information.