Casper vigil honors Kandice Gunter: Family shares memories after crash death
Friends and relatives gathered at David Street Station to remember the 30-year-old mother found deceased in a vehicle near Lookout Point.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Friends and family filled David Street Station on Friday night to honor Kandice Taylor Gunter.
Gunter was reported missing on Thursday, Oct. 29. Police found her body in a vehicle that had crashed over a guardrail near Lookout Point on Nov. 1. The Casper Police Department and Wyoming Highway Patrol continue to investigate the incident. Authorities stated there is no evidence to suggest foul play in the death of the 30-year-old.
The event was organized with assistance from Stacy and Bobby Koester, founders of the Gillette-based group WyoFind. Several attendees, including Casper resident Lisa Reamer, came to show support after seeing Gunter’s story in local media. Relatives from Nevada traveled to Wyoming to join the vigil. Kayla, Gunter’s sister, and Taylor Villegas, who described herself as an adopted sister, both spoke on stage.
Tyler Kentopp, a Casper native who met Gunter in 2013 while they attended school in Nevada, shared memories of their relationship. He described her as his first love and best friend. Kentopp said the couple returned to Casper about a month ago to provide stability for their two daughters, Violett and Penelope. He noted that Gunter overcame personal challenges following a medical emergency two years ago.
"There’s no way I could have made through this week without her family," Kentopp said. He added that things started to become positive for Gunter after that medical event. "People came to her, careers, everything else started coming to her, things she thought she would never have," he said. Kayla described her sister as patient and selfless. "She gave pieces of her heart to people around her without expecting anything in return," Kayla said.
Taylor Villegas recounted a humorous Easter memory involving hard-boiled eggs and a thrown projectile that hit their father, Tracy, in the forehead. Gunter’s oldest daughter, Violett, also addressed the crowd. "She was a really important person in my life," Violett said. She recalled that Gunter cried and laughed with her, often finding her jokes funny. "She loved me and Penelope equally, cause we’re sisters, you know," Violett added.
The Casper Police Department issued a correction on Nov. 8 to confirm the lack of foul play in the case. The vigil served as a central gathering point for the community to share recollections of Gunter’s life.
