Wood enters not guilty plea

Former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood made her initial appearance in court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to one count of deliberate homicide in the death of Matt LaFriniere, her former boyfriend.

Wood appeared via VisionNet with her attorney, Ashley Morigeau, from the Lake County Courthouse in Polson. Prosecutor Dan Guzynski of the Montana Attorney General's office was in court Tuesday in Thompson Falls for the arraignment before 20th District Court Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher.

Judge Christopher set a trial date of Sept. 16 for Wood, 54, who has been held on $1 million bond in the Lake County Jail since she was arrested March 20.

About a dozen community members and several officers with the Sanders County Sheriff's Office, including Sheriff Tom Rummel, along with members of LaFriniere's family, attended the court proceeding Tuesday at the Sanders Courthouse.

If convicted of felony deliberate homicide, Wood could face no less than 10 years in the state prison.

The 51-year-old LaFriniere was found dead at his home on Airport Road east of Thompson Falls on the afternoon of May 3, 2018. According to charging documents, LaFriniere was found under a piece of plywood outside his home by a coworker from Empire Builders who went to check on him when he didn't show up for work on May 3.

The Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was called in to assist the Sanders County Sheriff's Office with the investigation.

LaFriniere was found with "3 to 4 gunshot wounds which included wounds to his chest, back and hand," documents show.

On the night of May 2, when investigators allege the homicide occurred, Wood was hosting a Pampered Chef party at her house. Witnesses at the party told investigators that Wood left the party between 7 and 8 p.m. Court documents reveal that investigators obtained cellphone records of Wood's phone and another phone number assigned to a Tracfone, a prepaid cellphone. Telephone records showed both phones were in close proximity during that time, both near Wood's house and near LaFriniere's home. Investigators found text messages from the Tracfone to Wood on May 2 between 6 and 8 p.m.

At 7:26 p.m. on May 2, an anonymous 911 call was received by the Sanders County Sheriff's Office. The female caller reported that she "heard a boom and observed erratic driving along with an apparent altercation west of Thompson Falls." Investigators later discovered that call came from the Tracfone.

When investigators searched Wood's purse, a receipt was found for a .38 special caliber revolver from Ronan Sports & Western, purchased on March 15, 2018. Investigators did not find the handgun, but the bullet recovered during LaFriniere's autopsy was found to be consistent with the gun Wood purchased, court documents state.

Wood recently moved to Polson, where she was working as an advertising representative for the Lake County Leader. While in Thompson Falls, she worked as a Pampered Chef consultant and at accounting firm Bratz and Associates. Wood also was an active member of the Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce. She and LaFriniere had a child together and had been involved in a contentious custody battle which resulted in LaFriniere obtaining primary custody of the child, investigators said, "due in part to Wood's severe alcoholism."

LaFriniere graduated from Thompson Falls High School and previously worked as a Sanders County Detention Officer.