On September 28, 2001, Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Schwartz, 26, was killed in the line of duty after responding to a disturbance call about a dog being shot. Upon arrival he encountered twin brothers Joel and Michael Stovall, who were heavily armed and initially arrested. Officers recovered a gun and a knife from one brother, but a plastic handcuff key and a hidden gun were missed on the other.

With both brothers placed in the back of Deputy Schwartz’s patrol vehicle, they used the concealed key to free themselves, breached the barrier and shot Deputy Schwartz four times in the head while he sat in the driver’s seat preparing to transport them. They then pulled his body from the vehicle and shot him additional times before fleeing, triggering a manhunt.

Over the next 24 hours the brothers continued shooting at officers; 17 officers were wounded or narrowly escaped injury and Florence City Police Officer Toby Bethel was paralyzed during the pursuit. The Stovall brothers later surrendered, entered plea bargains, and received life sentences for Schwartz’s murder and the attacks on other officers.

Did anyone in Fremont County have contact with Deputy Schwartz or the Stovalls around September 28, 2001 who can add details about that day?