Aviles Jr. arraigned as search for missing Cody woman continues

by Kamryn Bouyett

Cody Enterprise

Via Wyoming News Exchange

CODY – One of the last people to see Katheryn Ann Ferguson before she disappeared in mid-October was arraigned last week for unlawful possession of ammunition.

Adam Shane Aviles Jr., 26, was arraigned on November 21 for being a felon in possession of ammunition, according to a press release from the Wyoming District Attorney’s Office. He is currently being held at the Big Horn County detention center and will remain in custody pending a trial that is set for January 22.

If convicted, Aviles Jr. will face up to 15 years of prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, according to the release.

Ferguson, 33, has been missing since October 10, when her ex-boyfriend Aviles Jr. returned from Alabama with the couple’s two young children, but without her. Since then, the search has continued for Ferguson, spearheaded by her family on Facebook.

The mother of Ferguson, Mona Hartling, posted a heartfelt statement on the Arkansas Missing Persons and Unsolved Cases Facebook page on November 8.

“Please share this!” said Hartling. “And please keep your eyes open for my beautiful daughter. Her family is sick with worry. We need her to come home. We love her with all our heart and soul.”

While traveling with Aviles Jr. and their children, Ferguson disappeared near Little Rock Arkansas, Hartling said.

Aviles Jr. was recently arrested for meth possession, but the charges were dropped by Park County in favor of federal gun charges, according to the affidavit.

Camera footage examined by Cody Police Department Detective Scott Burlingame showed Aviles Jr. had gone to Mainstream KT’s in Cody, according to the affidavit. The footage showed he was driving his father’s truck after his father had told him not to use the vehicle.

Aviles Jr. purchased a little over 20 gallons in gas at the Sinclair station at around 3 p.m. on November 6.

Two days later, Northwest Enforcement Team Agents assisted Park County Sheriff Darrell Steward in executing a search warrant at Aviles Sr’s residence on Wednesday November 8.

Aviles Jr. and his children had been previously living with Aviles Sr. with his two children.

At the residence, Aviles Sr. showed Steward where he’d found Aviles Jr’s drug paraphernalia. In the living room, a needle and syringes were found in a pair of jeans. They also found in a barbecue grill near the residence a small cloth bag containing a glass smoking pipe that contained residue. Later, the substance tested positive for meth.

As the search was ending, Aviles Sr. received a call from his ex-wife, Staci Johnson, who said Aviles Jr. was at her residence requesting to turn himself in.

Steward then traveled to Johnson’s residence in Cody. When he arrived, Aviles Jr. came out to surrender himself. He was patted down and did not have any weapons on him. When asked about the location of Aviles Sr’s truck he stated it was not near the Johnson’s residence but a “long way away.”

After being Mirandaized, Aviles Jr. asked to have an attorney present when being questioned. Aviles Jr. was transported to the Cody Law Enforcement Center and booked for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

His allegations will be investigated by the Park County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, firearms and Explosives.

Outside efforts are also following the case of Ferguson.

Solve The Case, a non-profit that helps to solve cases of missing persons and murder, reached out to Alen Ferguson, Katheryn’s brother, on November 4.

“Please let us know if we can help your family,” said the Solve The Case Facebook page.

Aaron Benzick, president of Solve The Case, said the non-profit is looking for any information that might lead to finding Katheryn and discovering what might have happened to her. As of yet, Benzick did not disclose whether anyone from the family has reached out to him.

The Solve the Case website posts details of cold missing persons cases. It also posts updates related to Ferguson’s case, including the mugshot of Aviles Jr. from when he was arrested on November 8.

With Aviles Jr. booked and Katie Ferguson still missing, Katie’s brother created a GoFundMe to bring the family back together. The donations will be used to support Hartling and Ferguson’s children, ages two and four. Money will also go toward traveling expenses to get the children back to Alabama.

Hartling shared the GoFundMe on her Facebook page as well.

“Our family has a big part missing, are (sic) hearts are broken, we are lost without her, we are going to bring her home, and are so appreciative for all of your help,” she wrote. “Thank you.” She also shared pictures of Ferguson, their children and Aviles Jr., requesting anyone who recognizes her daughter to contact the Cody Police Department.

Hartling said that Ferguson was in an abusive relationship with Aviles Jr., calling him “very manipulative and very sick in the mind when he was on drugs.”

Alen Ferguson also expressed his grief on Facebook. His feed was filled with pictures of his sister smiling and comments on the details of his missing sister.

“This can’t be real, this is a dream,” he said in a post, which linked a recent news article on his sister’s disappearance. “I need to wake up.”