Montana Mom Arrested for Son's Death

(Great Falls, Montana) A 31-year-old woman, Summer Many White Horses, was arrested last Friday for allegedly killing her 2-year-old son, James Many White Horses. An odd sequence of events led to the discovery of the toddler's decomposed body in the trunk of Many White Horses' car.

It started with Many White Horses getting into a car wreck in early August, followed by an search for the missing toddler.

She was arrested on several misdemeanor charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving and failure to remain at the scene of an accident.

She was taken to jail, and her car was towed to Carnahan & Sons Towing and Repair on Smelter Avenue, said Cascade County Attorney Brant Light. Many White Horses was released Aug. 10, a detention officer said.

On Friday, Great Falls Police found Many White Horses in Great Falls and questioned her about the missing toddler. In the interview, she told police her son had been in the trunk of the car since the night of the accident, Light said.

Officers obtained a warrant to search the car, which was still at Carnahan and Sons. They found the body of James Many White Horses in the trunk at about 3 p.m. Friday, Light said.

The body was badly decomposed, and authorities don't know if he was alive when the accident happened, Light said. Summer Many White Horses gave several different stories during the interview, he said.

Without a warrant nor probable cause, police never searched the vehicle on the night of the accident. The remains of James Many White Horses were sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for autopsy. Results are expected next week.

Summer Many White Horses faces charges of deliberate homicide, tampering with evidence and obstruction. She was booked into the Cascade County Detention Center.


[Update 6/12/09]

Summer Many White Horses pleads guilty to negligent homicide and evidence tampering. Sentencing is scheduled for July.