GUILTY MT - Kenzley Olson, 1, Poplar, 19 April 2016 *Arrest*

[MsMarple]

The lawyer for a woman accused of beating to death a baby under her care on a Montana American Indian reservation says it's unclear if her client intentionally killed the 13-month-old girl.
...
Zemyan says Red Dog admitted to law enforcement that she struck Kenzley, but only an autopsy would determine if that's what caused her death.
...
Zemyan says Red Dog had been caring for Kenzley for two weeks at the request of the girl's mother.

http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/attorney-raises-uncertainty-about-babys-killing/39165330

It's unclear if Red Dog intentionally killed Kenzley? Argh! Yes, I understand the legal difference here but really, when an adult strikes a child why isn't there a reasonable expectation that the child could be seriously harmed or even killed? I doubt I'll ever understand the thinking. Yeah, I meant to take my anger out by pummeling a child who weighs a fifth of what I do but hey, I never meant to kill her... oops! My bad.

Plus, I've been thinking... the story of Red Dog striking Kenzley "three times" seems a little off. According to msm Kenzley died immediately and Red Dog got scared and hid her body. Exactly how hard would someone have to punch a child for her to die right then and there? Most of the blunt force trauma cases we see here are the result of the child being beaten and the adult dealying calling for help or failing to altogether. IOW, there's a time lapse between the assault and death. IMO if Kenzley died immediately I'd say the punches were awfully hard.

JMO but if Red Dog had been watching Kenzley for two weeks I think there's more to this story. I'm suspicious that she hurt Kenzley earlier and let her suffer until she died. But I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Jo in Calif]

The lawyer for a woman accused of beating to death a baby under her care on a Montana American Indian reservation says it's unclear if her client intentionally killed the 13-month-old girl.
...
Zemyan says Red Dog admitted to law enforcement that she struck Kenzley, but only an autopsy would determine if that's what caused her death.
...
Zemyan says Red Dog had been caring for Kenzley for two weeks at the request of the girl's mother.

http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/attorney-raises-uncertainty-about-babys-killing/39165330

It's unclear if Red Dog intentionally killed Kenzley? Argh! Yes, I understand the legal difference here but really, when an adult strikes a child why isn't there a reasonable expectation that the child could be seriously harmed or even killed? I doubt I'll ever understand the thinking. Yeah, I meant to take my anger out by pummeling a child who weighs a fifth of what I do but hey, I never meant to kill her... oops! My bad.

Plus, I've been thinking... the story of Red Dog striking Kenzley "three times" seems a little off. According to msm Kenzley died immediately and Red Dog got scared and hid her body. Exactly how hard would someone have to punch a child for her to die right then and there? Most of the blunt force trauma cases we see here are the result of the child being beaten and the adult dealying calling for help or failing to altogether. IOW, there's a time lapse between the assault and death. IMO if Kenzley died immediately I'd say the punches were awfully hard.

JMO but if Red Dog had been watching Kenzley for two weeks I think there's more to this story. I'm suspicious that she hurt Kenzley earlier and let her suffer until she died. But I hope I'm wrong.

Underlying medical problem is what attorney is pointing to, IMO.
"I only punched her 3 times, she shouldn't have died from that."
"It was really self defense, she swung at me first."
This case makes my head burn.

 

[SCHMAE]

Poor baby

 

[ClaireNC]

This is so sad and it looks like meth played a role. "The leader of two American Indian tribes says the alleged beating death of a 1-year-old girl and the recent kidnapping of a second child reflect a rising drug epidemic that his Montana reservation has failed to address."

"Limited details have been released on Kenzley's death and the February kidnapping and sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl. Investigators haven't publicly linked them to drugs, but Azure told The Associated Press the use of methamphetamine was at the root of both crimes."

http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/attorney-raises-uncertainty-about-babys-killing/39165330

 

[kimi_SFC]

US woman killed baby girl, hid her body in dumpster[_/b]
[...]
"What it's coming down to is our society is basically allowing this to be the norm," he (Fort Peck Tribal Chairman Azure) said. "We are allowing this to happen by not speaking out."

Investigators haven't publicly linked either case to drugs, but Azure said the use of methamphetamine was at the root of both crimes.
[...]

Prosecutors filed an affidavit outlining the allegations Thursday, but the chief judge overseeing the case has not released it.

Zemyan said Kenzley had been under Red Dog's care since the girl's mother dropped her off about two weeks ago and then failed to return. Many details on the events leading up to Kenzley's death remain uncertain, she said.

"The only clear facts are that the baby was found in the dumpster, and Janelle told them where to find her, and that Janelle at some point struck the child. Those things don't add up to murder," Zemyan said.

Azure said Kenzley's mother was in jail when her daughter was killed. That was confirmed by the tribal jail, although the charges against her were not available.

[...]

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/america/250416/woman-killed-baby-girl-put-body-in-dumpster.html

RUBM
:stormingmad:
verreaction:

#JusticeForKenzley!
:rose:



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[OkieGranny]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/04/26/apnewsbreak-woman-to-be-charged-with-murder-in-baby-death.html

A woman on a Montana American Indian Reservation will be charged with murder in the alleged beating death of a 13-month-old girl who was under her care, a tribal prosecutor said Tuesday...

Additional charges could be filed later, Fort Peck Tribes Chief Prosecutor Scott Seifert said. Tribal law allows for a maximum three-year prison sentence on any one charge, with a combined maximum of nine years in prison and a $5,000 fine per charge.

Separate federal charges that could carry a more severe punishment also are expected in the case.

 

[Jo in Calif]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/04/26/apnewsbreak-woman-to-be-charged-with-murder-in-baby-death.html

We will just have to wait for the federal charges.
Filing a false police report, illegal disposal of a body a few more charges besides murder. IMO

 

[MsMarple]

The mother of a woman charged with killing a 13-month old girl on a Montana American Indian reservation says she believes the death was accidental.

Rhea Starr told The Associated Press on Tuesday that her daughter, Janelle Red Dog, had cared for young Kenzley Olson when no one else would.
...
Starr says Kenzley was Red Dog's niece and had been sick in recent weeks, coughing and throwing up.

http://www.kcbd.com/story/31821725/the-latest-woman-charged-with-murder-in-babys-death

The defendant's mother, Rhea Starr, said she believes Kenzley's death was an accident and Red Dog had been caring for the baby when no one else would.

"That baby was passed along like yesterday's gossip," Starr said. "I don't think (Kenzley's death) was intentional. I think my daughter was trying to help the baby and panicked."
...
Kenzley had been under Red Dog's care for about two weeks, after her mother dropped her off and failed to return, Red Dog's mother and her lawyer said. The tribal jail confirmed the mother was behind bars on unspecified charges when Kenzley died.
...
An investigator testified during a probable cause hearing last week that an autopsy determined Kenzley died of blunt force trauma. However, the court has not released the autopsy results or an affidavit from prosecutors that was said to have further details on the case.
...
Starr said her daughter had been addicted to painkillers "quite a few years ago" but was unsure if she had recent involvement in drugs.

"One addiction leads to another," Starr said. "There's so much drugs on this reservation it's crazy," she said.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/cri...cle_5da2bd51-9ad6-572d-99a0-e7d5daf6ec36.html

So we have Red Dog's mother defending the indefensible. Coughing and throwing up doesn't equal death by blunt force trauma, though it can be a sign of such trauma.

I sure hope federal charges are filed - 3 years for murder? Uh uh. :notgood:

 

[MsMarple]

June 17, 2016:

The second case on the reservations involved the murder of one year old Kenzley Olson in April. Janelle Red Dog has her bond set at $100,000. Last month, the 42-year-old pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony murder and a misdemeanor charge of hindering law enforcement.
...
Fort Peck Adult Correctional Facility say both Lieba [different case] and Red Dog have not posted their bond. Federal charges for both cases are expected to be filed in the near future.

http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/...file-cases-in-eastern-Montana--383464481.html

Red Dog's jury trial is set for Aug. 31.

 

[MsMarple]

BILLINGS – A Montana woman accused of killing a 13-month-old girl she was caring for and putting the child's body in a dumpster has pleaded not guilty to federal murder charges that could put her in prison for the rest of her life.
...
She entered the pleas Thursday to first-degree murder under the felony murder rule, second-degree murder and felony child abuse.

Red Dog also pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact. Authorities said she covered up aggravated sexual abuse.

Another suspect was not named and was listed as John Doe in an indictment filed in U.S. District Court. No details about the sex abuse allegation, including the victim's name, were disclosed in court documents.
...
Fort Peck tribal leaders have linked Kenzley's death and the recent kidnapping of a 4-year-old girl in Wolf Point to a methamphetamine epidemic on the northeastern Montana reservation.

http://missoulian.com/news/state-an...cle_4faf246a-1cf4-51f6-ab31-9d6ef9d5cea2.html

Investigators said Red Dog acknowledged striking Kenzley, who died of blunt force trauma.

Kenzley had been under Red Dog's care for about two weeks before she was killed, after her mother dropped her off and failed to return, according to Red Dog's mother and the lawyer representing her on related charges filed in Fort Peck Tribal Court.

http://helenair.com/news/state-and-...cle_ddcc4451-c719-5d8a-8db0-0e07818a8b92.html

The tribal law murder charge has a maximum penalty of three years in prison. The federal charge could mean LWOP. I don't know why "John Doe's" identity hasn't been released. Could he be the one who committed the sexual abuse on Kenzley? If so then why is he being protected?

Red Dog's mother says she believes Kenzley's death was an "accident" because she was sick and had a fever in the days before her murder. How that relates to Red Dog striking Kenzley - who died of blunt force trauma - and the sexual abuse is beyond me.

 

[MsFacetious]

Where does it say Kenzley was the victim of the sexual abuse?
Generally when it's a deceased victim they don't keep the identity secret.
Hopefully that wasn't also done to Kenzley.

It sounds like perhaps they know she knew of sexual abuse but she hasn't revealed who committed it.

 

[MissUnderstood]

Can somebody please explain to this Aussie girl what the main, if any differences are between the American courts and the Tribal court? Are there different laws, jails ect??


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[MsMarple]

Where does it say Kenzley was the victim of the sexual abuse?
Generally when it's a deceased victim they don't keep the identity secret.
Hopefully that wasn't also done to Kenzley.

It sounds like perhaps they know she knew of sexual abuse but she hasn't revealed who committed it.

According to the Federal court documents, it says, in part:

... the defendant, JANELLE RED DOG, knowing that certain offenses against the United States have been committed, to wit, aggravated sexual abuse in violation of 18 U.S.C (subsection). 2241(c), did receive, relieve, comfort and assist the offender JOHN DOE, in order to hinder and prevent the offender's apprehension, in violation of 18 U.S.C. (subsection) 3.

http://www.krtv.com/story/33107972/...uilty-to-killing-poplar-toddler-kenzley-olson

INAL but since this was included in Red Dog's charging doc it must relate to Kenzley somehow. I haven't seen anything in msm where the ME released info about sexual assault, only that the COD was blunt force trauma. But if I had to guess...

As for the difference between Federal and Tribal courts I'll leave the comprehensive answer to our Native American members. Here is a link to the Fort Peck Tribal Court that may help explain a little:

http://www.fptc.org/
http://www.fptc.org/ccoj/ccoj.html

And also:

http://www.bia.gov/FAQs/

 

[MsMarple]

Trial now scheduled for May 22.

Red Dog’s trial had been scheduled to begin on February 27th. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris of Great Falls granted a motion to delay the trial until May 22nd. The trial will be held in Great Falls.

Red Dog is charged with first- and second-degree murder for the April 2016 death of Olson. If convicted, Red Dog could be sentenced to life in prison.

http://www.krtv.com/story/34512771/...d-of-killing-poplar-toddler-delayed-until-may

 

[MsMarple]

Just In - Janelle Red Dog Pleads Guilty

Red Dog is accused in the murder of Kenzley Olson, 1, whose body was discovered in a duffel bag that had been thrown in the garbage on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

An Amber Alert was issued after the girl was reported missing, almost exactly one year ago.

Prosecutors alleged that Red Dog punched the girl several times and, after realizing she had killed her, disposed of Olson’s body.

Red Dog later confessed to the murder and drew detectives a map that lead them to the victim’s body.

No details about Red Dog’s relationship to Olson have ever been released in court documents.

http://www.ktvq.com/story/35231715/accused-killer-of-poplar-baby-agrees-to-plead-guilty
http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/35232031/red-dog-changes-plea-to-guilty-in-babys-death

No further details at this time - prosecutors have never released court documents other than the indictment and motion to delay trial - not the autopsy report nor have they ever explained Red Dog's relationship to Kenzley or if methamphetamine was involved.

Count I Felony Murder
Count II Second Degree Murder
Count III Bodily Injury to a Minor Under 14 years [Child Abuse]
Count IV Assisting an Offender (only named as John Doe) Hindering and Preventing Apprehension [Accessory After the Fact]

No information on "John Doe" who sexually assaulted Kenzley.

We may or may not learn more after the May 1 hearing. I don't know if Red Dog is protected under tribal law or if the prosecutors have just chosen to not release details. Either way I'm okay with it except for not naming the man who sexually assaulted Kenzley and whom Red Dog tried to protect.

No information on exactly what charges she will plead guilty to - hearing is set for May 1.

My bolding.

 

[cvaldez1975]

was the molester ever caught?

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Red Dog admits killing 1-year-old Kenzley Olson

http://www.krtv.com/story/35298062/red-dog-admits-killing-1-year-old-kenzley-olson

Janelle Red Dog of Poplar told a federal judge on Monday that she got high on methamphetamine before dumping in the garbage the body of a baby she had beaten.

Red Dog, 43 years old, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Great Falls to the charge of second-degree murder.

Red Dog admitted she killed Kenzley Olson, 1, at a residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in April of 2016.

In exchange for her guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed the charge of first-degree murder and assault on a minor.

Prosecutors have not said what sentencing they will recommend.

Red Dog is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10.

 

[cvaldez1975]

Jesus. She was a sick baby.


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[JusticeWillBeServed]

Poplar woman gets 20 years for toddler's murder

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/crime/2017/07/26/poplar-woman-gets-20-years-toddlers-murder/514747001/

A Poplar mother has not yet forgiven the woman who was high on meth when she killed the mother's 13-month-old daughter in April 2016.

"Do you know what you've done?" Eva Hernandez asked Janelle Red Dog, sitting in tears at the defendant's table Wednesday in federal court. "You've ruined my life... I used to look up to you."

Red Dog was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years in federal prison for second-degree murder. She signed a plea deal earlier this year in which she admitted to killing 13-month-old Kenzley Olson — Red Dog's niece and Hernandez's daughter — in 2016 on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, in exchange for a lower sentencing level.

 

[MsMarple]

Poplar woman gets 20 years for toddler's murder

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/crime/2017/07/26/poplar-woman-gets-20-years-toddlers-murder/514747001/

20 years. That's the value of a baby's life. It's likely Red Dog will be out in 10 years or so as long as she keeps her nose clean in prison. Like baby Brianna Lopez' mother - sentenced to 27 years, out in 13.

From http://www.krtv.com/story/35977249/red-dog-sentenced-to-prison-for-killing-toddler

Instead of getting the child emergency medical help, Red Dog put the baby in the bedroom and invited a friend over to use methamphetamine together.
...
On the way to the hospital, Red Dog believed Olson had died so she stopped the vehicle and stuffed Olson into a duffel bag.

Red Dog threw the duffel bag in to a dumpster and returned home to sleep.
...
The coroner determined that Olson died from multiple blunt force traumas and reported that the baby was covered head-to-toe in bruises.

"Covered head-to-toe in bruises." From earlier articles - Red Dog said Kenzley was crying a lot so she hit her on the head several times, twice while she was sitting in her high chair and twice when she was standing by Red Dog's bed. Liar.

I've been looking to see if there was any followup on the sexual assault but so far I've found nothing. From a September, 2016 article:

Another suspect was not named and was listed as John Doe in an indictment filed in U.S. District Court. No details about the sex abuse allegation, including the victim's name, were disclosed in court documents.

Federal public defender R. Hank Branom said he did not know any details about the abuse allegation beyond what was in the indictment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hornbein said the identity of John Doe was unknown. She declined comment on any possible link between the sex abuse allegation and Kenzley's death.

http://missoulian.com/news/state-an...cle_4faf246a-1cf4-51f6-ab31-9d6ef9d5cea2.html

Original Indictment.