Wyoming newspaper publisher dies by suicide in local park: sheriff

A Wyoming newspaper publisher and father of two killed himself on Monday, leaving his family and local community reeling.

Vince Bodiford, 62, was the regional president of Adams Publishing Group, which put out five newspapers in the Cowboy State.

Bodiford was found dead late Monday afternoon at Lions Park in Cheyenne, Wy., according to The Cheyenne Post, a paper he published and founded in 2019.

His cause of death was ruled a suicide by Laramie County Sheriff’s office.

The father of two became a member of Adams Publishing Group after the conglomerate bought The Cheyenne Post last October, according to that paper.

Bodiford resigned from his position as regional president last Friday — just three days before his suicide.

The local media power player at one time served as the CEO for Bridge Media — which at one point operated 24-hour news and sports networks, and owned 90 television stations, the Cheyenne Post reported. He also served in the US Navy.

Bodiford started his media career at age 13, where he worked as an inserter at a small weekly newspaper in southern California, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, which is owned by Adams Publishing Group, reported.

Bodiford is survived by his wife Jeanette, two children, and four grandchildren.