A 14-year-old boy is facing life in prison after being charged as an adult in the first-degree murder of his mother, Theresa McIntosh. Prosecutors allege the teenager executed the 41-year-old woman following an argument regarding a stolen electronic tablet.
The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) responded to a residence in Cheyenne at approximately 12:50 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. Upon arrival, deputies discovered McIntosh unconscious with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Although she was airlifted to a specialized medical center in Colorado, she eventually succumbed to her injuries.
The Investigation and Confession
According to a police affidavit filed in Laramie County Circuit Court, the investigation shifted rapidly from a reported suicide to a homicide inquiry. The teenager initially informed investigators that his mother had taken her own life. However, under questioning, the minor reportedly admitted to pulling the trigger.
The fatal encounter was sparked by a dispute over a tablet that the teenager had allegedly stolen from one of his mother’s cleaning business clients. Per court documents, the 14-year-old expressed deep-seated resentment toward his mother, claiming she “called him names” and “insulted him” during the confrontation.
The suspect further revealed to investigators that he had contemplated killing his mother in the past, particularly when she required him to perform tasks against his will.
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Premeditation and the Weapon
Evidence suggests the shooting may have been a calculated act. The teenager told authorities he retrieved the firearm—a weapon his mother typically kept in her vehicle—a week prior to the shooting. He allegedly hid the gun in his closet following a separate “big fight” regarding his mathematics grades.
On the day of the incident, the teen reportedly waited until his mother entered his bedroom before firing the weapon.
Household Context and Mental Health
At the time of the shooting, the victim’s common-law husband—who is also the suspect’s biological father—was inside the home. He told investigators he was downstairs playing video games while wearing noise-canceling headphones.
The father reported hearing a “pop” that he initially mistook for a balloon bursting. It was only after going upstairs that he discovered the teenager standing outside the bedroom and McIntosh on the floor.
“I don’t want to think what I think happened,” the father told police, according to the affidavit. “I don’t even want to put it into words.”
The father noted that the boy was actively seeing a counselor and was prescribed medication for ongoing mental health challenges at the time of the shooting.
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Legal Proceedings
The Laramie County District Attorney’s office has elected to charge the 14-year-old with first-degree murder. Under Wyoming law, the severity of the charge allows for the minor to be tried in the adult criminal justice system.
If convicted of the top charge, the teenager faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. It remains unclear if the defendant has retained private counsel or will be represented by a public defender.
