Preliminary hearing for manslaughter charge set for April 12

by Janet Montgomery

The Sublette County Circuit Court has set a preliminary hearing at 11 a.m. on April 12 for Iva Jo Hueske, who is charged with voluntary manslaughter following an alleged altercation between her and her boyfriend that resulted in the man found dead and Hueske arrested on March 11.

The felony charges were filed against the 42-year-old recent resident of Pinedale on March 13. Hueske is accused of voluntarily, upon a sudden heat of passion, killing a human being, namely 30-year-old Brandon Honerkamp.

Court documents alleged that a 911 call was received at about 12:25 a.m. But no one spoke to the dispatcher, who heard arguing and yelling. About an hour later, a deputy was approached outside Stockman’s Bar and Restaurant in Pinedale by one of the business’ employees. She told the deputy that the sheriff’s office needed to send someone out to the Big River Road apartments in the Boulder area.

At about 1:45 a.m. on March 11, Sublette County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Big River Road apartments on a medical call. The deputies entered the reported residence and found the body of a male subject, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

Emergency Medical Service personnel were unable to find a pulse or respiration for the man, and he was pronounced dead, according to the release. The man had been eviscerated.

The deputies returned to Stockman’s to contact the woman he spoke with earlier and learned that Hueske was allegedly the other person involved in the altercation.

According to court documents, Hueske allegedly uttered statements that she had stabbed her boyfriend. Hueske was placed under investigative detention.

Hueske allegedly admitted to stabbing her boyfriend after he apparently assaulted her in a vehicle and later forced his way into the bedroom in which she said she had barricaded herself, according to court documents.

But when Hueske was told that Honerkamp had died, her story allegedly changed, according to court documents.

After being questioned, Hueske was taken into custody and charged.

Following the execution of a search warrant, a silver kitchen-style knife with a black handle bearing apparent “biological residue” was discovered in one of the duffle bags, according to court documents.

State of Wyoming Crime Lab agents responded to assist in executing the search of the apartment, while elements of Hueske’s story were checked.

Court documents indicate that an autopsy would be performed on the victim’s body.

Voluntary manslaughter is a felony punishable by no more than 20 years in prison and fine of up to $10,000, or both.