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Former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood on Tuesday was sentenced to 100 years in the Montana State Women’s Prison without the possibility of parole. Wood appeared in 20th District Judicial Court before Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher, who imposed the sentence. Wood was found guilty in January of deliberate homicide in the death of Matthew LaFriniere. Prosecutors recommended Wood be sentenced to a term of life without without parole. “Danielle killed for the sole purpose of taking Matt aw...
After nine days of testimony and eight hours of deliberation, a jury found former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood guilty of deliberate homicide last week. Wood was convicted of the charge in the May 2018 death of Matthew LaFriniere, who was found dead at his residence east of Thompson Falls. Wood was arrested in the matter in March 2019. She was living in Polson at the time of her arrest and has been held for almost two years at the Lake County Jail while she awaited trial. "Justice was...
The trial of a former Thompson Falls woman continues this week at the Sanders County Courthouse. Danielle Wood has been charged with one count of deliberate homicide in the death of 51-year-old Matthew LaFriniere, a lifelong Thompson Falls resident who was found dead at his home in May 2018. Wood, 56, has been awaiting trial since her arrest in March of 2019. The trial began last Tuesday in 20th District Judicial Court with Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher presiding. Prosecutors Daniel...
Testimony continued Tuesday in the trial of Danielle Wood, a former Thompson Falls resident charged with deliberate homicide in the 2018 death of Matthew LaFriniere. Testifying on Tuesday were employees of ZetX Corporation, a company that analyzes cellphone data. Michael Fegely of ZetX told the jury in court Tuesday that he used phone records from Verizon and Google, security video footage and photos of the defendant's car to track Wood's movements throughout the course of the day for May 2,...
Attorneys called their final witnesses on Wednesday in the trial of Danielle Wood, 56, a former Thompson Falls resident accused of deliberate homicide in the death of her ex-boyfriend, Matthew LaFriniere. The jury of eight women and four men has been hearing testimony since the trial began January 19 at the Sanders County Courthouse. On Wednesday, LaFriniere’s father, George, testified. “He was my son, my friend and in a lot of ways my hero,” George said of his son, calling him honest, hardworking and gentle. Also testifying Wednesday was D...
A jury has found former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood guilty of deliberate homicide. The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for about eight hours, beginning Thursday evening and continuing Friday morning. Wood was charged in the 2018 murder of Matthew LaFriniere, her ex-boyfriend with whom she shared a child. LaFriniere was found dead at his home east of Thompson Falls on May 3, 2018. Wood was living in Polson when she was arrested in March of 2019. Judge Deborah "Kim"...
The trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood began Tuesday with opening arguments by the prosecution and defense attorneys. Prosecutors introduced themselves and their approaches for the trial, stating they intend to convince the jury of eight women and four men that Wood premeditated the 2018 murder of Matthew LaFriniere of Thompson Falls. In opening statements, prosecutors said Wood purchased the firearm prior to the murder and a disposable cell phone in order to call into 911...
---UPDATED 5:40 p.m. January 21, 2021--- Wednesday afternoon in 20th District Judicial Court, Thompson Falls Police Chief Chris Nichols testified in the trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood. He was the first law enforcement officer on the scene on May 3, 2018, the date Matthew LaFriniere was found dead at his home on Airport Road near Thompson Falls. Nichols arrived at the scene and determined that LaFriniere was deceased. He testified that he notified dispatch that EMS could...
The murder trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood continued Thursday in Thompson Falls. Mark Hilyard, who was with the state Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) at the time Thompson Falls resident Matthew LaFriniere was found dead at his home near Thompson Falls, testified in court Thursday morning. Hilyard said he and two other DCI agents arrived after 9 p.m. on May 3, 2018, at the scene where Matthew LaFriniere's body was found. Hilyard stated that soon after they arrived,...
As the Danielle Wood trial entered its fifth day of testimony, experts from Google and Verizon testified on Monday. The witnesses testified to the validity of cellphone data and security camera footage gathered by investigators. Kevin McCarvel with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigations continued his testimony on Monday. McCarvel first took the stand on Friday at the Sanders County Courthouse. LaFriniere’s residence on the evening of May 3, 2018. LaFriniere’s body was discovered by a coworker earlier that day. Friday, McCarvel det...
