Montana Woman Gets 55 Years in Toddler Son's Death - Updated

(Great Falls, Montana) Summer Many White Horses was sentenced yesterday.

Judge Julie Macek sentenced Many White Horses to 40 years at the Montana Women's Prison on a charge of negligent homicide, and 15 years consecutively on a charge of tampering with evidence - about half the time the state recommended.

The body of the toddler was found in the trunk of his mother's car last September, and Many White Horses later admitted to hiding the boy's dead body in the car for almost three months.

Prosecutor John Parker had asked for 100 years on the negligent homicide charge, and 20 years concurrently for tampering with evidence.

Many White Horses was declared a persistent felony offender in today's hearing based on a long record of DUI's, felony escape, felony forgery and assault on a peace officer; this allowed the state to recommend higher sentences.

Interestingly, although Many White Horses was sentenced to 55 years in prison, it's reported that she will be eligible for parole in 14 years.

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Montana Woman Guilty in Toddler Son's Death
[Previous 6/12/09 post]
(Great Falls, Montana) In September 2008, a 31-year-old woman, Summer Many White Horses, was arrested for allegedly killing her 2-year-old son, James Many White Horses, and stuffing the toddler's body in the trunk of her car.

With her trial scheduled to begin Monday, Summer Many White Horses, now 32, pleaded guilty today to negligent homicide and evidence tampering in accordance with an agreement with the prosecution.

Court documents indicate that Many White Horses repeatedly beat her son. Ultimately, he died and she put his body in the car's trunk. She subsequently drove around for three months in the summer of 2008 with the body decomposing in the car.

"The photographic evidence was shocking," [County Attorney John Parker] said. "The witness testified about the smells emanating from the car from the body being there for 3 months. Certainly some shocking facts."

Parker says he hopes for a strong sentence from judge Julie Macek. Twenty years is a maximum on negligent homicide and 10 is the maximum for tampering. However, the sentence could be much longer because she is a persistent felony offender, which carries a maximum sentence of 100 years. [...]

According to court documents, the precise cause of death in this case was never determined. The tampering was greatly obstructive during autopsy. No internal organs remained in the body when it was discovered.

Many White Horses is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29.